Author: jnjhackler

Judge Mary Kay O’Brien’s deep ties to the Madigan Machine are well known. O’Brien was appointed as an Appellate Court Justice during her final year in the Illinois General Assembly after voting with Madigan 93.6% of the time. O’Brien also “Helped Madigan Regain The Speakership,” and received over $200,000 in political contributions from political groups led by Madigan over the course of her career. In addition to her ties to the indicted former party boss, O’Brien’s record on the bench is even more concerning. 

As an Appellate Justice, O’Brien has overturned the convictions of some of Illinois’ most heinous and violent criminals and has a history of coddling criminals while turning her back on local law enforcement.

For example, in 2013, Jesus Zambrano was convicted of murder for his role in the Joliet murder where the “victim was shot in the head inside a third-floor apartment at the Larkin Village apartment complex during an apparent lover’s triangle”. Zambrano was arrested while attempting to flee to Mexico, and would later appeal his conviction on the grounds that he received “ineffective assistance of counsel”. In 2016 O’Brien’s court granted his appeal and ordered a retrial for Zambrano. He was later found not-guilty and released. In 2021, Zambrano was once again arrested, this time for shooting a man in the groin during an altercation.

All told, O’Brien has overturned many serious criminal convictions, including murder convictions and numerous robbery, drug, and sexual assault convictions.

“Madigan Machine Judge Mary K. O’Brien has a history of using the courtroom to coddle criminals. As Illinois grapples with the impending elimination of cash bail on January 1st, 2023, the last thing Illinois families need is a soft-on-crime judge on our state’s highest court. O’Brien might say nice things on television, but she has been a card-carrying member of the Madigan Machine who’s spent her judicial career putting criminals before crime victims and the safety of our communities,” said Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Shaun McCabe.

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Public safety is on the ballot on November 8th 

The New York State Legislature abolished cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent offenses in 2019. The Illinois State Legislature followed suit in the dead of night last year, and Governor Pritzker signed the [un]SAFE-T Act into law, abolishing cash bail for most non-violent offenses effective January 1st, 2023. What does this hold for the future of crime in our state?

Since going into effect in January 2020, New York’s bail reform law has led to an unprecedented massive rise in crime, violent reoffenders, and accused criminals skipping trial.

According to the New York Post in February, “Nearly every single city police precinct has seen spikes in crime so far this year — including five in which the rate has doubled.”

Meanwhile, as a direct result of the new bail law, 20.1% of “felony arraignments” were rearrested in 2021, with 16.1% failing to appear at arraignment. These stats could indicate an even more grim future on the horizon for Chicago which has already seen a 38% spike in crime since this time last year and recently passed the grim threshold of 500 homicides so far this year.

Just this Friday, “An accused jilted madman who flew into an ax-wielding rage at a Lower East Side McDonald’s was released without bail at his arraignment,” according to the New York Post. “Michael Palacios, 31, who allegedly grabbed an ax and trashed the Delancey Street fast-food joint in a fit early Friday, was arraigned on fourth-degree criminal-mischief and possession-of-weapons charges hours later and freed, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said. Neither charge is eligible [to be retained in custody] for bail under the state’s lenient criminal-justice reforms.”

“Public safety is on the ballot this November. This election is all about what kind of state we want to be. Do we want to be a state that prioritizes public safety and condemns criminal behavior? Or do we want to continue to be a state that coddles criminals as businesses and families flee for safer pastures? The choice this November could not be more clear,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

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Another week has gone by without Governor Pritzker or Senate President Harmon condemning Senator Michael Hastings’ reprehensible behavior. 

It’s been 43 days since a police report obtained by the Edgar County Watchdogs earlier this year, revealed allegations by Hastings’ now ex-wife of domestic violence. According to the report, “Hastings treated his wife poorly for the past 8 months being emotionally and verbally abusive” and “That he battered her, by placing her in a choke hold/neck restraint, and slammed her body into a door multiple times”.

Meanwhile, Hastings has been using taxpayer money to settle additional harassment allegations. “For more than two years, lawyers for the state of Illinois fought against a lawsuit filed by the former chief of staff to powerful Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort. But the state paid $100,000 earlier this year to the ex-chief of staff to Hastings and her lawyer to settle the case, which included accusations of racial and gender discrimination against the Democratic lawmaker,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Since these scandals broke, there has been nothing but crickets from the Governor and Senate President regarding the serious harassment and domestic abuse allegations against a prominent member of their party’s caucus. 

“Governor Pritzker and Senate President Harmon’s silence on the reprehensible allegations against Senator Michael Hastings is deafening. Do they feel these allegations are unserious and not worthy of response? Or is their silence politically calculated? Either way, voters of Illinois deserve to know – and know now –  where the Governor and Senate President stand on inexcusable behavior by one of the most prominent members of their caucus,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

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Under Governor JB Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois has become one of the most pro-criminal, anti-police states in the nation. So, it’s no surprise that almost all Illinois state’s attorneys and sheriffs – the top prosecutors and law enforcement officials in each of their respective counties – are opposed to Pritzker’s new criminal justice “reform” of eliminating cash bail.

On Friday, Kankakee County’s State’s Attorney Jim Rowe, a Democrat, and Sheriff Mike Downey, a Republican, teamed up to sue Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Their lawsuit “seeks injunctive relief based upon the Act violating the Illinois Constitution; violating the single-subject law; violating separation of powers; being unconstitutionally vague; and violating the three-readings requirement.”

“According to Governor Pritzker, any opposition to the [un]SAFE-T Act is just ‘right wing propaganda’. That couldn’t be further from the truth, and today’s lawsuit – brought by both a Democrat and a Republican – further highlights the serious issues with this anti-police, pro-criminal legislation,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “Governor Pritzker and the 92 Democrat legislators who voted in favor of this terrible bill should repeal this radical left-wing bill before it goes into effect on January 1, 2023.”

It couldn’t be more clear: public safety is on the ballot this November, and this awful bill shows why four more years of Governor Pritzker will be dangerous for Illinois families. Kankakee County State’s Attorney Rowe joins Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow as the latest Democrats who are calling out Pritzker, his [un]SAFE-T Act, and its likely potential harm to communities across our state.

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“Vice President Harris’ visit comes on the heels of another round of record inflation numbers this week caused by the failed policies of the Biden Administration. Meanwhile, Chicago crossed the grim milestone of 500 homicides this week. Instead of ducking and deflecting, the Vice President needs to answer questions regarding the Biden Administration’s role in fueling the inflation crisis, and where she stands on Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot’s failure to keep our communities safe.”

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Nice language can’t disguise trojan horse tax increases & unnecessary mandates

Two years after Governor Pritzker’s failed tax referendum, there’s a new proposed amendment to the Illinois constitution on the ballot this November – the “Workers’ Rights Amendment,” or “Amendment 1”. While Amendment 1 is worded simply enough, make no mistake, it is a trojan horse paving the way for tax-increases and unnecessary big government mandates that will harm Illinois businesses.

“As Illinois Republicans, we believe in hard work and personal responsibility. We are pro-growth, pro-business, and pro-worker. As a direct result of the important right to organize and collectively bargain, unions have benefited our brothers and sisters in the trades, business, and public safety. While Amendment 1 is being promoted as a workers’ rights initiative, in reality, it is a disguised tax referendum, a Trojan horse that, if passed, is projected to cost a typical family over $2,100 in additional property taxes within the next four years,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. 

According to research from the Illinois Policy Institute:

The change would prevent commonsense reforms to reduce homeowners’ tax burdens while giving government union leaders virtually limitless new ways to demand higher costs from taxpayers…Amendment 1 would guarantee that family pays at least $2,149 in higher property tax bills over the next four years, no matter which politicians win this November or how well they try to follow through on their promises.

This amendment is tantamount to a power grab, driven by big government union bosses, attempting to usurp potential legislative action, and effectively create a union mandate. This change – that could not be undone by legislative action – would make it even harder to do business in Illinois, at a time when businesses are already leaving in droves.

“Should Amendment 1 pass, it could only be changed or repealed via additional constitutional referendum, effectively usurping the power of the State Legislature to make needed changes in the future. While we support workers and their right to organize, the Illinois Republican Party opposes the passage of Amendment 1,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

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Former Treasurer’s scandals prove him unfit for a third chance

Alexi Giannoulias is no stranger to political scandals and mismanagement of his office. 12 years after last being rejected by Illinois voters, Giannoulias is continuing his rehabilitation tour hoping that voters will have forgotten about his shady past.

As State Treasurer, Giannoulias was responsible for safeguarding families’ hard-earned college savings funds, Bright Start. He let them down, and the fund lost millions. According to NBC Chicago from January 6, 2010:

Bright Start was supposed to be Alexi Giannoulias’ shining achievement. Instead, the beleaguered fund, which lost more than $150 million through risky Oppenheimer investments, is radiating trouble for the Illinois State Treasurer and his Senate campaign.

Later Giannoulias tried falling upward by running for Senate. During his 2010 race, it came to light that his family bank loaned money to mobsters while Giannoulias was Senior Loan Officer. According to the Chicago Tribune from April 1, 2010:

The family bank of Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias loaned a pair of Chicago crime figures about $20 million during a 14-month period when Giannoulias was a senior loan officer, according to a Tribune examination that provides new details about the bank’s relationship with the convicted felons. Broadway Bank had already lent millions to Michael Giorango when he and a new business partner, Demitri Stavropoulos, came to the bank in mid-2004. Although both men were preparing to serve federal prison terms, the bank embarked on a series of loans to them.

Next, federal regulators seized Giannoulias’ family bank. According to Reuters from April 23, 2010:

Regulators on Friday seized a Chicago bank owned by the family of the Democratic nominee running for the Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. Broadway Bank was among seven Illinois banks whose failure was announced on Friday. U.S. regulators have seized 15 banks in the past two weeks, as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp ratchets up efforts to clean up the banking industry.

“Try as he might to sweep it under the rug, Alexi Giannoulias’ past is littered with scandals, fiscal management, and shady behavior unbefitting of the Secretary of State’s office,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “Illinois voters can’t afford to put Alexi and his shady past in charge of Illinois’ largest government office. It’s a recipe for disaster.” 

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With the end of cash-bail on the horizon, Chicago’s streets could get even more dangerous

This past weekend, Chicago reached another sad milestone: we’ve now officially seen 36  people accused of killing or shooting – or attempting to kill or shoot – someone in Chicago while awaiting trial for a felony this year. With the elimination of cash bail, sadly, that number will likely continue to grow next year.

What does the future have in store for Illinois once cash bail is eliminated? The State of New York abolished cash bail for most nonviolent offenses in 2020. Since then, New York City has seen a massive spike in crime, while 20.1% of “felony arraignments” are rearrested, with 16.1% failing to appear at arraignment. This doesn’t bode well for Chicago which has already seen a 38% spike in crime since this time last year.

“Governor Pritzker’s signature legislation – the un-SAFE-T Act – has been an abhorrent tragedy for Illinois residents. We’ve already seen an unprecedented rise in violent crime, which will only be exacerbated by the end of cash bail next year. Public Safety is on the ballot this November. We must elect a Governor, and legislators who will prioritize public safety and fix this ticking time bomb,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

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For the last two years, Illinois voters have continually been denied clear answers from Mike Frerichs on a host of issues, led by his comments supporting taxing retirement income. Frerichs’ continual ducking and hiding from any challenge to his policies and statements have been made clear by ignoring Treasurer Candidate Tom Demmer’s invitation for a series of public debates between the two candidates.  

Returning back to October of 2020, nearly four months after commenting in support of a retirement tax, Treasurer Frerichs announced and then proceeded to abruptly cancel a press conference on the topic. Unfortunately, his record of impeding voters’ request for more transparency doesn’t end there. 

Fast forward to 2022 and Treasurer Frerichs continues to ignore an invitation from State Representative Tom Demmer to participate in a series of public debates to discuss the retirement tax and other issues pertinent to state fiscal policy. 

The people of Illinois deserve a leader who will stand up for Illinois families, protect their hard-earned savings, and refuse to run away when challenged to produce facts on their record. Treasurer Frerichs owes nothing less to every resident of Illinois than the opportunity to hear an open and honest exchange of ideas before the November 8 election. 

“While Frerichs ducks, deflects, and dodges, Tom Demmer has been fully transparent about his agenda to safeguard taxpayer dollars and serve as a fiscal watchdog, not a tax-and-spend Pritzker lapdog. Meanwhile, Treasurer Frerichs has repeatedly ignored opportunities to face the voters and explain his past support for taxing retirement income. Voters of Illinois deserve the opportunity to hear open, honest, and transparent debates,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. 

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Since the allegations against State Senator Michael Hastings first came to light, one thing has been consistent throughout the entire saga, crickets from the Governor, Senate President, and Hastings’ Democrat colleagues in the Illinois State Legislature.

According to WBEZ, “For more than two years, lawyers for the state of Illinois fought against a lawsuit filed by the former chief of staff to powerful Sen. Michael Hastings. But earlier this year, the state paid $100,000 to the ex-chief of staff to Hastings and her lawyer to settle the case, which included accusations of racial and gender discrimination against the Democratic lawmaker.”

To date, Hastings’ scandals have left Illinois taxpayers on the hook for nearly $150,000 in legal bills and settlements. In addition to using taxpayer money to settle his harassment claims, Hastings faces very serious allegations of domestic abuse from his wife. 

According to the police report obtained by the Edgar County Watchdogs earlier this year, “Hastings treated his wife poorly for the past 8 months being emotionally and verbally abusive” and “That he battered her, by placing her in a choke hold/neck restraint, and slammed her body into a door multiple times”.

Meanwhile, Hastings’ spokesperson lashed-out at the longtime Director of the Illinois Environmental Council who accused Hastings of having “had serious issues with anger management that aren’t appropriate for the workplace where we are making laws for the state of Illinois”. Hastings’ spokesperson called her a “bully” and accused her of lying.

One prominent Democrat has spoken out. State Senator Napoleon Harris actually came to Hastings’ defense saying that he has “known Mike Hastings to be one of the most upstanding, professional, and honest legislators in the Illinois Senate.”

“Since Senator Hastings won’t address the allegations against himself by other means than lawsuits and name-calling tantamount to victim-blaming, Governor Pritzker, Senate President Harmon, along with Senator Hastings’ colleagues in the legislature have some explaining to do. They must be called to answer questions about where they stand on Senator Hastings’ domestic abuse allegations, history of inappropriate workplace behavior, taxpayer-funded legal settlement, and if they feel he is still fit to serve in the Illinois Senate,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “Their silence in the name of political expediency is deafening.”

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