David Hoffman (Hoffman for Senate)

A former federal prosecutor has lost the Democratic primary to fill President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat, finishing second in a five-candidate field.

David Hoffman, who was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago under Patrick Fitzgerald, received almost 34 percent of the Democratic Senate primary votes on Tuesday, trailing Illinois state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who captured 39 percent of the ballots.

The battle was for the right to appear on the November general election ballot to fill the seat being vacated by Democrat Roland Burris. Burris was appointed early last year to finish Obama’s Senate term but  decided not to seek election to a full term.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, The Associated Press called the election for Giannoulias, who earned 39 percent of the vote. He was followed by Hoffman with 33.8 percent, Chicago Urban League CEO Cheryle Jackson with 19.7 percent, physician Robert Marshall with 5.7 percent and attorney Jacob Meister with 1.8 percent.

Alexi Giannoulias (Alexi Giannoulias for Illinois)

Hoffman, who was a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois from 1998 to 2005, came under fire from Giannoulias for seeking campaign donations from his former colleagues. He had received endorsements from numerous news organizations, including The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times and numerous politicians and organizations.

Giannoulias will face Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) in November. Kirk won the GOP primary on Tuesday with 56.6 percent of the vote. He beat attorney Patrick Hughes who earned 19.3 percent, retired attorney Don Lowery. who got 8.9 percent, historian Kathleen Thomas,  who got 7.3 percent, writer Andy Martin, with  5.1 percent, and management consultant John Arrington who garnered just 2.8 percent of the vote.

David Hoffman (Hoffman for Senate)

A fundraising appeal to federal prosecutors has become a campaign issue in the Illinois Senate race.

Among the candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to fill President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat is former federal prosecutor David H. Hoffman. Hoffman, who is running on an anti-corruption platform, has sought campaign donations from his former colleagues in the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney office.

Because prosecutors don’t earn the big bucks, Hoffman suggested a modest donation of $150 in this fundraising event flier. But one of his challengers had found reason to complain — not because the prosecutors are giving too much, but because they are asked to give too little.

Illinois state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has pointed out that donations of less than $200 do not require the donor to report his or her name and employer to the Federal Election Commission, The Huffington Post reported.

Giannoulias then accused Hoffman, a former inspector general for the City of Chicago, of not being transparent.

Alexi Giannoulias (Alexi Giannoulias for Illinois)

Giannoulias wants Hoffman to cancel the fundraiser and return any donations he has received from current prosecutors. Giannoulias campaign manager Tom Bowen said in a statement: “The last thing the Illinois culture of corruption needs is political candidates soliciting the lead agency responsible for investigating corruption.” He added: “If we are going to be serious about reform, we have to act seriously. Hoffman should cancel the fundraiser, refuse money from current federal prosecutors and refuse to take contributions from employees of the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

Hoffman spokesman Thom Karmik released the following statement:

“Alexi Giannoulias just retired the award for political hypocrisy. For months, he’s been trumpeting the lie that he’s emulating Barack Obama’s ethical standards by not taking corporate PAC money. But Obama swore off all PAC money in his presidential campaign. By taking thousands of dollars in non-corporate PAC money, Alexi’s failed to meet Obama’s standard while trying to fool the voters.

“Among Alexi’s latest PAC contributions is one from the Community Bankers Association. That association is leading the fight in Washington against President Obama’s efforts to pass tougher financial regulations to protect consumers. Instead of throwing stones from his glass house, Alexi ought to return that contribution.

“And while he’s at it, he can reveal for the first time how many millions of dollars in dividends he took out of his family bank while its loans were failing and the FDIC put it on its “watch list.” Perhaps that’s why he’s refusing David’s challenge to release his tax returns for the past five years – another standard Barack Obama set that Alexi’s refused to honor.”

David Hoffman (Hoffman for Senate)

A former Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago is asking prosecutors to open their (not very fat) wallets for his U.S. Senate campaign.

In a fundraising event flier, David H. Hoffman, who worked in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago from 1998 to 2005, suggests that current Assistant U.S. Attorneys donate a “minimum” of $150, while friends, guests, co-hosts and sponsors are asked to donate more.

Hoffman, who was most recently the inspector general for the City of Chicago, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.).

The flier wasn’t sent to current assistant U.S. attorneys, although it was sent to the homes of 352 former prosecutors, campaign spokesman Thom Karmik said, according to The Chicago Tribune’s Clout Street blog. The prosecutors have a lower “suggested minimum” donation,  Karmik said, because “They make less than attorneys in private practice.”

According to Randall Samborn, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, Assistant U.S. Attorneys can make campaign contributions; attend political fundraisers and rallies; and campaign for or against candidates without violating civil service rules and the Hatch Act, The Tribune reported. However, AUSAs are not allowed to participate in politics on government time or solicit or raise campaign donations.

Along with the donation request, Hoffman distributed an open letter from Scott Lassar, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who is co-hosting the Nov. 3 event along with former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Berkowitz, John Gallo and Lori Lightfoot.

“One of the best decisions I made at the U.S. Attorneys Office was hiring David Hoffman. David was a brilliant AUSA who chose to devote himself to gang and gun cases because it made a difference in some of our neediest communities. He initiated successful innovations in the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, including addressing groups of people being released on probation.

David next transformed the City of Chicago’s Office of Inspector General into a model of integrity and competence.

Now David is running in the Democratic primary for United States Senate. As many of you know, David would be a terrific Senator. He is bright, pragmatic, hard working, and eloquent. Those of you who don’t know him will soon find out.”

Burris was appointed in December by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D)  to the seat previously held by Barack Obama, sparking a political uproar. Fitzgerald — who is also Hoffman’s former boss — was investigating Blagojevich in a pay-t0-play corruption probe and had accused the governor of  being on “political crime spree.” The Senate at first refused to seat Burris, but later relented. Burris has said he won’t seek election next year.

Other candidates for the Feb. 2 Democratic primary are state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, businessman Stan Jagla, Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Robinson Jackson, write-in candidate Robert Jones, frequent candidate Robert Marshall and attorney Jacob Meister.