I-Team: Old allegations of misconduct against Keith Farnham resurface

CHICAGO (WLS) -- It was supposed to be a normal status hearing in federal court this morning, but tonight a shroud of mystery hangs over the federal case against former Elgin state representative Keith Farnham. U.S. prosecutors have asked for more time to review the child pornography case against him. It is unclear what authorities are checking, except that there is a decades-old allegation of misconduct against Farnham that they are apparently running down.

Farnham was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2008 and attracted very little attention, controversial or otherwise, during his time in office. But in April, the house came tumbling down on the Elgin Democrat when federal agents with dog teams raided his home and found child pornography on several computers they said, including state-owned equipment. Farnahm quit his reelection bid, resigned from office a short time later. His attorney has suggested on numerous occasions the case may be resolved without trial. Farnham is in ill health.

Today's revelation of an ongoing investigation overshadows any potential plea deal, at least for the time being.

Farnham is a former commercial painter and over the years some of his fundraising efforts have been questioned, especially bundling of individual contributions and heavy donations from the painting union, but it's not known if these have anything to do with the new investigation of old allegations.

Farnham has never commented on any of the allegations against him, always yielding to his attorney. His attorney had no comment today when the I-Team contacted him, and the U.S. attorney's office has not elaborated on what the nature of these new allegations of old misconduct charges might be.