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.”

Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) included a Bush holdover in his recommendations for the next Illinois Central and Southern District U.S. Attorneys, according to a news release from the senator’s office.

A. Courtney Cox (Hart & Hart)

The Illinois senator recommended that President Obama consider retaining Southern District U.S. Attorney A. Courtney Cox in the job he has held since he was appointed to the post by a federal court in November 2007. This is the second Illinois U.S. Attorney that Durbin has asked Obama to keep in place. We previously reported that the Illinois senator requested that Northern District U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald keep his job.

Durbin spokesperson Joe Shoemaker said the Illinois senator did not make his recommendations based on the political affiliations of the candidates. He said Durbin picked the “best qualified people.”

Durbin also suggested that Obama consider lawyer Stephen Wigginton for the Southern District post. He has been with Belleville, Ill. firm Weilmuenster & Wigginton since 2000. Prior to joining the Belleville firm, he spent eight years as a litigator at law firms. He also served as a criminal prosecutor in the Circuit Attorney’s Office in St. Louis.

Stephen Wigginton (Weilmuenster & Wigginton)

Durbin recommended to Obama that Central District Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Harris or James Lewis replace Illinois Central District U.S. Attorney Rodger Heaton, who has held his post since 2005.

Lewis has served as the head of the office’s civil division for two decades. He was a Justice Department Civil Division trial attorney and civil rights lawyer in Mississippi before joining the Central District office.

Harris, the office’s criminal division chief, joined the criminal division at the office in 2001. He worked as a litigator at Springfield law firm of Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes from 1988 to 2001 after serving an eight year stint as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the office.

A bipartisan committee suggested the candidates to Durbin.

Obama has the final say on all U.S. Attorney recommendations. The Senate must confirm the president’s nominees before they can be sworn in as U.S. Attorneys.