U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski's campaign committee has paid at least $24,822 for auto insurance since 1989 but has not owned or leased any vehicles, a newspaper reported Monday.
The committee paid $15,497 in auto insurance in 1989 alone. It paid $3,480 in 1990 and $5,357 in 1991 and so far has reported spending $488 for part of 1992, the Chicago Sun-Times said.But the Rostenkowski for Congress committee has no vehicles registered with the Illinois secretary of state's office, which keeps official records of vehicle ownership, the newspaper reported.
Rostenkowski, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, would not explain what cars were covered by the insurance. Spokesman Pat Jones said the Chicago Democrat did nothing wrong.
The Sun-Times reported Sunday that Rostenkowski charged taxpayers at least $68,250 over five years to lease three vehicles that became his personal property.
House rules prohibit members from using campaign funds for per-sonal benefit.
The committee paid insurance premiums to Near North Insurance Agency, once owned by former Cook County Board President George W. Dunne and now owned by Michael Segal. The Sun-Times identified Segal as a friend of Rostenkowski's.
Segal refused to comment on Rostenkowski's insurance.
A federal grand jury is investigating whether Rostenkowski illegally got cash through stamp transactions at the House Post Office. And the Sun-Times also has reported that he paid $73,000 to himself and his sisters to rent a little-used campaign office.
Rostenkowski has denied wrongdoing.