The Illinois Legislative Inspector General asked lawmakers Tuesday for more independence to investigate claims of wrongdoing by legislators.

Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope told a committee Tuesday her office is supposed to be an independent body. But, she said she has to get permission from the Legislative Ethics Commission to investigate and even issue subpoenas. In one instance, she acknowledged former state Sen. Terry Link was on the commission while he was under investigation and even later charged with tax fraud. Pope didn’t mention Link by name.