Quinn: No reimbursement for Cohen

CHICAGO, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- There was no political trading to get the scandal-ridden winner of the Illinois lieutenant governor Democratic primary to quit the race, Gov. Pat Quinn says.

Quinn said the Sunday decision by Scott Lee Cohen to abandon the Democratic nomination came with no promises to cover the $2 million he spent on a barrage of campaign ads, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

The Illinois governor told the newspaper he was unaware of any efforts to help Cohen get his expenditures back, saying, "I don't believe that would be the way to go. Offerings. The answer is no."

A spokesman for Illinois House of Representatives Speaker Michael Madigan, the state Democratic chairman, agreed with that assessment, saying no mention of reimbursing Cohen came up during two conversations the ex-candidate had with Madigan leading up to his tearful Sunday withdrawal.

Cohen withdrew after the details of domestic abuse allegations and his relationship with a prostitute were unearthed by the media.

Democratic Party leaders from around the state who will make the decision on a replacement for Cohen, and all five lieutenant governor rivals defeated by Cohen have said they're interested, the Tribune reported.