Tag: Press Release

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Pritzker, Raoul, Mendoza, Frerichs and White Are Silent As Madigan Poised To Keep Democratic Party Chairmanship Today

Top Illinois Democrats are mum on Madigan’s party leadership because they know he is dragging their campaigns down

“Top Illinois Democrats like Pritzker, Raoul or Mendoza have an opinion on everything, but here’s one thing they don’t like to talk about: Mike Madigan. Today, Madigan will be reelected as Democratic Party chairman for the sixth time, but don’t look to the statewide candidates for an opinion. They are all mum on Madigan’s leadership because they are complicit in his corruption, and they know he is dragging their campaigns down.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

 

At 1:00PM today in Springfield, leaders in the Democratic Party of Illinois will be casting their vote for party chairman, and it looks like House Speaker Mike Madigan is set to stay in power.

Madigan has held the Democratic Party chairmanship since 1998 and his tenure has been marked by scandal and corruption, even allegations of sexual harassment from within his political organization.

So are top Illinois Democrats embracing their party leader, Mike Madigan? Nope – far from it. Here’s what the Democratic candidates for statewide office have to say on Madigan leading their party:
J.B. Pritzker: [silence]
Kwame Raoul: [silence]
Susana Mendoza: [silence]
Mike Frerichs: [silence]
Jesse White: [silence]
The Illinois Democratic candidates for statewide office are silent on their support for their party leader, Mike Madigan, because they are complicit in his corruption, and they know he is dragging their campaigns down.

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Sam McCann’s Entry Into Governor’s Race Is His Latest Example Of Self-Dealing And Using Politics For Profit

McCann’s shady record makes him the perfect crook to cut a deal with Pritzker and Madigan

“Sam McCann’s professional and political careers have been devoted to serving himself. Whether it’s lying about serving in the Marines, dodging taxes on his failed business, or treating his campaign funds like a personal piggy bank, McCann will say or do anything just to make a buck.

“Now, McCann is jumping into the governor’s race to play the part of spoiler, hoping to cash in along the way and maybe land a lucrative appointment from Pritzker or Madigan after the election. Sam McCann is the worst kind of politician – one who uses politics for profit.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Today, State Sen. Sam McCann announced his intention to run as a third-party candidate for Illinois Governor. McCann’s goal? Money for himself – and lots of it. McCann’s campaign has been funded by Madigan-allied labor unions that have already endorsed Pritzker’s campaign for governor.

So why would these same unions back another candidate for governor? To spoil the election. They tried and failed the same dirty tricks in 2014 and it looks like they’re back to their old habits. McCann is taking the opportunity to cash in big time. Public records reveal that McCann treats his campaign fund like his own personal piggy bank, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on himself and his lifestyle. The potential for even more big checks from unions gives McCann the opportunity to make even more money.

McCann’s time in Springfield has been mired in lies, scandal and self-dealing, which makes him the perfect crook to cut a deal with Madigan and Pritzker in an attempt to spoil the election for Illinois Republicans. Be on the lookout for McCann to receive a lucrative appointment or job from Pritzker or Madigan after the election, but in the meantime, Sam McCann will be exposed for what he is: a crooked politician who uses politics for profit.

McCann Lied About Serving In The U.S. Marine Corps

During his first run for State Senate, Sam McCann claimed he was “a member of the U.S. Marine Corps” and that he learned “courage” in the Marines. McCann also claimed to have received an “honorable discharge prior to completion of training due to an accident.”

It turns out that none of those things are true. For six years, McCann said he would provide a DD 214 to prove he actually enlisted, but was unable to do so because the documents don’t exist. McCann later clarified that the “courage” he learned was from a booklet, he was not dishonorably discharged, and that no discharge papers actually exist.

McCann Faces Over $200K In Tax Liens On His Failed Construction Business, Lawsuits For $20,000 In Unpaid Credit Card Debt, And A Foreclosure For Not Paying His $150K Mortgage On A Second Home In Florida

Sam McCann is the biggest deadbeat in Springfield, but he says it’s all just a big misunderstanding. Businesses owned by McCann face over $200,000 in tax liens from the Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Department of Employment Security. McCann also faces several lawsuits for unpaid credit card debt totaling nearly $20,000. Just last year, a Florida home owned by McCann was foreclosed because he failed to make over $150,000 in mortgage payments.

Sam McCann justified his bad bookkeeping by saying he mixed up Federal Employer Identification Numbers on tax forms and that he never reserved bills for credit card debt. He also justified skipping mortgage payments by saying he faces “the same problems that so many citizens face every day.”

McCann Treats His Campaign Fund Like His Own Personal Piggy Bank, Has Spent Nearly $250,000 On Vehicle-Related Expenses And Other Questionable Items

Public records reveal that Sam McCann treats his campaign fund like his own personal piggy bank. Since his first campaign for State Senate, McCann has spent $243,735.36 on vehicle-related expenses, including over $61,000 on a new 2017 Ford Expedition XLT, over $19,000 on a truck and trailer, and over $6,000 on a new engine for his personal Jeep. McCann has charged taxpayers $19,600 for official travel expenses, while also expensing $110,075.76 for mileage from his campaign. McCann has simultaneously expensed the total cost of vehicles, vehicle rentals, a new engine, gas, a car alarm, tinted windows, vehicle maintenance and mileage. The only vehicle-related expense McCann has not incurred is stock purchases in Ford or General Motors.

McCann has also faced scrutiny for reporting unspecified “group expenditures,” which amounted to several lump-sum payments to McCann himself totaling over $40,000. Such expenses are prohibited.

A cursory search through McCann’s expenditures reveals that he uses his campaign fund to supplement his lavish lifestyle:

  • $104,248.70 in non-itemized expenditures
  • $440 for “petty cash”
  • $5,618.46 for “meals” at various restaurants
  • $14,395.65 for “meetings”
    • $678.46 at Fogo De Chao in Chicago
    • $322.00 at the Christkindlmarket in Chicago
    • $6,982.85 at the Embassy Suites hotels in both Chicago and Alexandria, VA
  • $6,984.22 for “Public relations”
    • $945.17 at Top Shelf Liquor in Springfield 4 days before Christmas in 2017
    • $2,100.00 at Scheels in Springfield 4 days before Christmas in 2017
  • $56,068.23 for “equipment”
    • $37,689.91 for “Security & Camera Equipment” from B&H Photo in New York City
  • $22,142.34 at Best Buy, with four separate purchases happening just days before Christmas
  • $23,990.97 at Walmart
    • $762.68 three days before Christmas in 2016
  • $11,965.85 for “phones” from Verizon, AT&T, Straighttalk and Frontier
  • $4,477.03 for “internet” from HughesNet and New Wave Comm

McCann Takes Campaign Cash From Madigan-Allied Unions Who Have Already Endorsed Pritzker’s Campaign For Governor

Speaker Madigan has been “breaking legs behind the scenes” to help J.B. Pritzker’s campaign for governor by steering endorsements and establishment support to Pritzker, including from unions allied with Madigan, but those same unions are also supporting Sam McCann. Below are unions that have endorsed Pritzker’s campaign for governor and bankrolled McCann’s and Madigan’s various political committees:

  • Illinois Federation of Teachers
    • Contributions to McCann: $98,625
    • Contributions to Madigan (since 1/1/08): $904,800
  • Illinois Education Association
    • Contributions to McCann: $403,192.29
    • Contributions to Madigan (since 1/1/08): $206,000
  • SEIU Healthcare IL IN PAC
    • Contributions to McCann: $11,250
    • Contributions to Madigan (since 1/1/08): $1,228,200
  • LIUNA’s Construction & General Laborers’ District Council
    • Contributions to McCann: $58,900
    • Contributions to Madigan (since 1/1/08): $1,085,000
  • IUOE Local 399 Chicago
    • Contributions to McCann: $70,900
    • Contributions to Madigan (since 1/1/08): $1,041,900
  • IBEW Local 134 Chicago
    • Contributions to McCann: $55,400
    • Contributions to Madigan (since 1/1/08): $144,800

In an August 2017 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times’ Mark Brown, IUOE Local 150 President-Business Manager Jim Sweeney, a “staunch ally of Speaker Madigan,” revealed his strategy to support both McCann and Pritzker in the 2018 election. McCann knows he can’t win, so he’s teaming up with allies of Pritzker and Madigan to play the part of spoiler and profit along the way.

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State Rep. Monica Bristow Hopes Illinois Lawmakers Get Pay Raises Next Year

Bristow: “Hopefully [the General Assembly] gets its act together… and we’ll all get raises.”

“Does Monica Bristow honestly believe that she, Madigan, and her fellow Democrat colleagues deserve a pay raise? If anything, they deserve a pay cut after all the damage they’ve done to Illinois. Monica Bristow is the worst kind of politician – one who is in it for the money, not the middle class.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Moments ago on the floor of the Illinois House, 111th District Democratic State Rep. Monica Bristow made a stunning admission and said she hopes lawmakers get pay raises next year:

“Hopefully if this body [the Illinois House] and the Senate gets its act together, we will be able to have our revenue exceeding expenditures and we’ll all get raises.”

Bristow made the comments during floor debate on her bill, HB5760, which sets mileage reimbursement rates and prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers.

House Republican Floor Leader Peter Breen countered, “I don’t know that you were supposed to go on record and say every member of the General Assembly should get a raise.”

Bristow then said “I do believe…,” before she was cut off and voting commenced on the bill.

Monica Bristow is the worst kind of politician – one who is in it for the money, not the middle class.

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As J.B. Pritzker “Declined” To Call For New Leadership, Mike Madigan Set To Continue Democratic Party Chairman Role

“J.B. Pritzker… declined to criticize Madigan or call for leadership change [in the Democratic Party of Illinois]”

“With so many decades of scandal and corruption, you think Illinois Democrats would be tired of Mike Madigan dragging their party down, but no. J.B. Pritzker, who sits at the top of the ticket for Illinois Democrats in 2018, thinks Madigan should stay. Pritzker and Madigan need each other so they can push their tax hike agenda on hardworking Illinois taxpayers and families.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Following Mike Madigan’s big win in J.B. Pritzker $70 million primary campaign, Madigan and Pritzker are moving onto their next challenge – keeping Madigan in control of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

After the primary, members of the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Illinois will cast their ballots to elect a party chairman and all signs point to another term for Mike Madigan.

With so much scandal and corruption, why is Madigan gliding into another term? Because J.B. Pritzker, the top of the ticket for Illinois Democrats in 2018, refuses to criticize Madigan or call for new leadership, even as other leading Illinois Democrats like Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss have called for change.

J.B. Pritzker is A-OK with another four more years of Mike Madigan in control of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

“…All indications are that, when leaders of the Illinois Democratic Party meet soon, they’ll once again elect Madigan to be their state chairman, a position he holds in addition to serving as speaker of the state House.

“There have been more rumors than usual this year about an oust-Madigan movement, buzz that seemed to gain currency when two of the three major Democratic candidates for governor, Daniel Biss and Chris Kennedy, called on Madigan to relinquish his chairmanship.

“But both lost in the primary to J.B. Pritzker, who’s carefully declined to criticize Madigan or call for a leadership change. And the two names that were being mentioned as possible replacements—U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and state Comptroller Susana Mendoza—are not interested, say sources close to them.”

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J.B. Pritzker Silent As Imprisoned Friend Rod Blagojevich Gets Conference Date From SCOTUS

If his supporters are an indication, Pritzker thinks Blagojevich deserves another day in court (probably)

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court announced that it has scheduled a conference meeting for April 13th to hear whether it will consider Rod Blagojevich’s appeal to get out of prison early.
Noticeably silent following the announcement is friend of Blagojevich J.B. Pritzker, but Pritzker’s allies are doing all of the talking. Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Mike Quigley and former Congressmen Glenn Poshard all have endorsed Pritzker’s campaign for governor and all have signed their names onto the brief concerning Blagojevich’s appeal.

Does J.B. Pritzker agree with his allies that Rod Blagojevich deserves another day in court?

J.B. Pritzker has long been under fire for his extremely close ties to Rod Blagojevich.

In bombshell investigative reports from the Chicago Tribune, it was revealed that Pritzker was recorded on FBI wiretaps conversing with Blagojevich about political appointments while making insensitive remarks concerning top Black elected officials.

Pritzker was later scrutinized for a $100,000 campaign contribution to Blagojevich where one reporter said “sounds like pay-to-play to me,” but those close ties only scratch the surface.

Given J.B. Pritzker’s long and sordid history with imprisoned former governor Rod Blagojevich, surely Pritzker has an opinion on Blagojevich’s attempt to get out of prison early.

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As Hampton v. Madigan Lawsuit Emerges, J.B. Pritzker Still Silent on Madigan’s Continued Leadership

After sexual harassment allegations in Madigan’s political organization, many Democrats called on Madigan to step aside, but not Pritzker

Yesterday, the Chicago Tribune reported that former Madigan campaign worker Alaina Hampton filed a federal lawsuit against the Democratic Party of Illinois and Friends of Michael J. Madigan, political committees chaired by House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Hampton is suing for damages because she was prevented from doing future political work for Madigan after she blew the whistle on sexual harassment within Madigan’s political organizations.

J.B. Pritzker, Mike Madigan’s candidate for governor, has said he “believes” women when it comes to telling their stories on being victims of sexual harassment and abuse, but he doesn’t really mean it.

Now that Hampton has filed suit against Madigan, Pritzker faces yet another stark choice between his political patron and the people of Illinois. Will Pritzker side with the plaintiff, Alaina Hampton, or the defendant, Mike Madigan.

Make no mistake – J.B. Pritzker is part and parcel of Mike Madigan’s political machine, and his continued silence makes him complicit in Madigan’s corruption. Pritzker has already made his position known.

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Pritzker Has Yet To Take Questions On “Misleading” Statement About His Offshore Shell Companies

With just one day to go before the Illinois primary, will J.B. Pritzker respond to allegations that he’s offering misleading statements to reporters about his offshore Bahamas shell companies?

On Saturday, J.B. Pritzker reportedly stated: “I haven’t moved any money off shore and I don’t invest offshore it’s not apart of what I do.” Pritzker was called out by NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern, who tweeted, “How can @JBPritzker say this now?” Ahern also called Pritzker’s statement “misleading.”

The Chicago Tribune specifically “found several offshore shell companies created between 2008 and 2011…that are either wholly owned by J.B. Pritzker, his brother and business partner Anthony Pritzker, or list other close associates as controlling executives.”

J.B. Pritzker needs to come clean, because it appears as if Pritzker is intentionally lying to voters just hours before the polls open.

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In Final Debate, J.B. Pritzker Called “Liar” and “Fraud” By Chris Kennedy, Daniel Biss

Pritzker uses offshore shell company to dodge taxes while advocating for tax hikes on Illinois families

Last night, J.B. Pritzker, Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss squared off in what was their final debate before the March 20th Primary Election, and Pritzker played defense against Kennedy’s and Biss’ attacks.

Yesterday morning, the Chicago Tribune published yet another bombshell report detailing J.B. Pritzker’s use of offshore shell companies to avoid taxes on a for-profit business venture Pritzker owns in Illinois. Pritzker doubled down on previous false claims that all profits from any offshore entities he owns go directly to charity.

Unsurprisingly, that report became the focus of the debate and it dominated news coverage everywhere.

Chicago Tribune: Pritzker called ‘liar,’ ‘fraud’ during final Democratic governor debate

Leading Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker was called a “liar” and a “fraud” by two rivals as the billionaire businessman’s ties to secret offshore shell companies became the focus of the final forum of the campaign Wednesday night.

For his part, Pritzker avoided getting into specifics of his financial holdings, and claimed the offshore companies were investment instruments of family trusts established long ago and that charity was the beneficiary, not himself.

Chicago Sun-Times: In final gov debate, Dems haggle over Madigan, Berrios, taxes and integrity

…Pritzker was forced to defend himself against a Chicago Tribune report that claimed Pritzker and his brother control several offshore companies created between 2008 and 2011 — suggesting that Pritzker may be avoiding paying taxes. The story claims one of Pritzker’s offshore companies is part of a venture that plans to buy land along the Chicago River to launch boat tours downtown.

CBS 2 Chicago: Pritzker, Biss, Kennedy Face Off In Final Democratic Debate

For the final time before next Tuesday’s primary, the three leading Democrats running for governor met Wednesday evening in a televised debate.

And the major topic was whether billionaire J.B. Pritzker has stashed much of his wealth offshore to avoid taxes.

For this entire campaign, Pritzker has maintained overseas trusts were established long ago by his family and any proceeds go straight to charity. But, he was on the defense about whether some of the companies were set up more recently, and whether he’s benefiting.

NBC 5 Chicago: Final Dem Debate For Illinois Governor Gets Heated

…JB Pritzker seemed uncomfortable while Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss were ready to strike on the WTTW-hosted gubernatorial forum.

Kennedy was critical of Pritzker’s explanation after a new Chicago Tribune report disclosed Pritzker’s off-shore companies, investments kept secret and untaxed.

ABC 7 Chicago: Top 3 Democratic candidates for governor square off in final debate

…Pritzker found himself repeatedly on the defensive over a Chicago Tribune report suggesting he was being dishonest about his offshore holdings and trusts that provide tax shelters.

“Remember, those trusts are focused on charitable donations so any distributions that are made go entirely to charity,” he said.

“We just heard this unbelievable mess of word salad in an effort to distract us from what we learned from the Trib this morning,” Biss replied.

“If they’ll lie to you to get the job, they’ll lie to you to keep the job and you do not want a liar as the governor of the state of Illinois,” Kennedy said.

WGN 9 Chicago: Pritzker defends finances; Top 3 Democrats running for governor face off in debate

…The debate started with questions about Pritzker’s offshore trusts and companies.

A new report claimed that Pritzker had a secret offshore bank account to avoid taxes. The Chicago Tribune reported the existence of offshore shell companies created over the last decade wholly owned by J.B. Pritzker, his brother and his business partner or other close associates.

WTTW: Pritzker’s Offshore Holdings Under Fire in Final Governor’s Race Forum

Pritzker has maintained throughout his campaign that all offshore holdings tied to his name were created by his grandfather and used for charitable disbursements. But a Chicago Tribune investigation published Wednesday revealed several shell companies created in the last 10 years owned by Pritzker and funded through offshore accounts. Pritzker insisted during Wednesday’s forum that he had no control over those accounts, but dodged a question about their ownership and claimed they pose no conflicts of interest.

Chicago Tribune Column: J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire with offshore accounts, really isn’t like us

…According to a Chicago Tribune investigation, several offshore shell companies created between 2008 and 2011 — decades after Pritzker’s grandfather died — are either wholly owned by Pritzker or his brother and business partner Anthony Pritzker, or they list other close associates as controlling executives.

Pritzker explained in December that the only money he took out of the offshore trusts went to charitable organizations. He certainly isn’t the only rich politician to keep money offshore, but he’s the only one so far to claim that it helped him become a modern-day Robin Hood. It’s insulting that he would think Illinoisans are stupid enough to believe he has offshore holdings so that he can help the less fortunate.

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In 1998, Rod Blagojevich Compared J.B. Pritzker To President Abraham Lincoln

Pritzker’s close ties to Blagojevich go back over two decades

It is undeniable that J.B. Pritzker and disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich have been “bosom buddies” for decades.

Pritzker fundraised for Blagojevich’s run for Congress in 1996 and Blagojevich helped Pritzker in his failed run in 1998. Pritzker joined Blagojevich’s $25,000 Club with a large campaign check, and Blagojevich later appointed Pritzker to head Illinois’ Human Rights Commission. Then there’s the infamous FBI wiretaps between Pritzker and Blagojevich published by the Chicago Tribune, and that only scratches the surface.

Blagojevich and Pritzker were so close, Blagojevich swooned over Pritzker as early as 1998, talking of his “tremendous future” in politics and comparing him to President Abraham Lincoln.

From yesterday’s profile in the Chicago Tribune:

…He finished third with 20 percent of the vote in a 1998 primary won by Jan Schakowsky, who still holds the seat. Pritzker got campaign help from workers allied with former 33rd Ward Ald. Richard Mell, the father-in-law of future Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Two years earlier, Pritzker had helped Blagojevich win his congressional seat.

“This was a good first start and I think J.B. has a tremendous future,” Blagojevich said in a May 1998 Tribune profile of Pritzker. “Remember, Abraham Lincoln didn’t win his first election, and Mario Cuomo lost several races before he got elected. For J.B., this is only the beginning.”

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After Allegations of Abuse and Criminal Trespass Resurface, Does J.B. Pritzker Still Support Bob Rita?

Pritzker used LLC to secretly funnel $5,400 to Bob Rita in 2016

“Mike Madigan and J.B. Pritzker are bankrolling a Democrat accused of beating a woman and trespassing on her property. When Pritzker says ‘we believe you’ and Madigan says he will ‘personally’ intervene in harassment and abuse cases, they don’t really mean it. J.B. Pritzker will support Mike Madigan at all costs, regardless of how many women Madigan’s corruption hurts.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

First, it was Kevin Quinn. Then, it was Shaw Decremer. Now, it’s State Rep. Bob Rita.

Yesterday, on International Women’s Day, yet another brave woman stepped forward to tell her story of abuse at the hands of a close ally of House Speaker Mike Madigan, Bob Rita.

Rita’s accuser revealed that in 2002, her father, a former legislator, pleaded with Mike Madigan to personally intervene with Rita to keep her safe from his violent attacks. Madigan said he couldn’t get involved and kept the money flowing to Rita’s campaign. Now, Madigan says he can’t recall if such a meeting ever occurred. Rita went on to win his campaign and be a rubber stamp for Madigan’s agenda.

Fast forward to 2016.

J.B. Pritzker used an LLC to secretly funnel $5,400 in campaign cash to Bob Rita, Mike Madigan, and other Madigan-backed Democrats.

Now that domestic battery and criminal trespass allegations against Rita have resurfaced, does J.B. Pritzker still support Bob Rita’s candidacy for the Illinois House?

Additionally, does J.B. Pritzker believe Bob Rita’s accuser or does he believe Mike Madigan?

Whenever J.B. Pritzker says “we believe you” or Mike Madigan says he will “personally” intervene in harassment or abuse cases, they don’t really mean it. Madigan and Pritzker will do anything for power, no matter how many women get hurt.

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