North Cook News

Northfield Township Committeman T.J. Brown is calling on Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger  (R-Rockford) to be “transparent” after a Russian immigrant beauty queen said she was offered an internship with his office just before engaging in a four-month relationship with him back in 2018.

Over that time, Olga Kambod told the National File she sent racy photos to the lawmaker at his request. She says she provided reporters with “extensive communications” that back up her claims of the relationship.

The publication reported the exchanges between Kambod and an old phone number once linked to Kinzinger were “sexually charged and volatile text massages.”

Kambod also provided emails from Kinzinger’s congressional staff discussing what were to be her internship duties.

“I think we should allow Rep. Kinzinger to explain his side,” Brown told the North Cook News, adding “it certainly is not appropriate to have a personal relationship, let alone a sexual relationship, with someone you are interviewing to be an employee.”

According to the National File, Kambod claims Kinzinger became enraged with her after she accused him of suffering from “low levels of testosterone.”

She never served the internship and she claims she was later subjected to an “over-the-phone intimidation campaign” that included calls from someone claiming to be “Capitol Police” as part of what she saw as an effort to keep her quiet.

“In my opinion, he doesn’t respect women,” Kambod told the National File.

At the very least, Brown said he’s concerned Kinzinger may have abused his power.

“From the one report I read, it's possible,” he said. “I'd like to see a little more information before jumping to conclusions on this. If the details show that he dated her and offered her a position as an intern which he withdrew or she declined as their relationship went sour, that's an abuse of power. If he used Capitol Police or impersonators of Capitol Police officers to intimidate her into remaining silent, he should step down and face possible criminal charges. But that's an ‘if’ right now.”

Kambod, who reportedly graduated from law school and worked for a criminal defense attorney, was recently in the news for surviving an acid attack that left her permanently scarred. 

She said she met Kinzinger just over three years ago when applying for the internship.

“I think he liked me, but he loves his career more,” Kambod added. “I think my nationality was a problem for him. I think he is corrupted and thirsty for money and power.”