In August, Link was charged in federal court with filing a false tax return in 2016. Court documents from 2019 suggested that the 73-year-old Democrat cooperated with federal investigators against another state lawmaker, then-State Rep. Luis Arroyo, in anticipation of the false tax return charge, hoping it would lead to a reduced sentenced, according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times.
In a letter to Senate Secretary Tim Anderson, Link wrote that he is resigning effective Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m.
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon issued a statement on the resignation and vacancy, saying, "I look forward to welcoming and working with a new senator from Lake County. We've got a lot of work to do for the people of Illinois."
The same day the false tax return charges were filed, Link resigned from the Legislative Ethic Committee.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.