The Mell-Hull affair: Mell paid to work on Hull’s bid
It was widely known that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s father-in-law, Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), was supporting wealthy businessman Blair Hull in the U.S. Senate race Barack Obama ended up winning in 2004.
Few people, however, knew Mell was getting paid to work on Hull’s campaign.
So what makes this curious now?
Hull’s campaign fund didn’t pay Mell directly. Instead, Mell was paid by a political consulting company owned by Fred Lebed, the right-hand man of embattled Sen. Roland Burris. Lebed’s company was working for Hull, and Mell was a “subcontractor,” Lebed said.