* Ugh…
From Tina’s story…
Scott Lennox, 21, of 3300 N. Lake Shore Drive, is charged with one felony count each of threatening a public official, telephone harassment and harassment by electronic communications, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.
According to a Chicago police report, Lennox left Bailey a voicemail at 10:27 p.m. Oct. 28 in which he threatened to “mutilate and kill” him. Illinois State Police learned Lennox used his cellphone to make the threats against Bailey. Police said Lennox admitted making the threats.
Police say he admitted it. I’m hearing the threat was really gruesome.
Bailey had Illinois State Police protection the other day because of this awful man.
Likely updates ahead.
…Adding… Tribune…
Pritzker on Wednesday took to Twitter to condemn the incident, saying “the violent rhetoric and division we’re seeing across our country is unacceptable.”
“Hatred in any form has no home in Illinois,” the governor continued.
Also condemning the incident was Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, of Hillside. “We need these violent threats to stop,” Welch tweeted. “Politicians on both sides of the aisle need to lower the rhetoric and bring back civility to our politics. I don’t agree with Mr. Bailey’s policies, but I want nothing but the best for him and his family.”
…Adding… Back to Tina…
The voicemail in question followed a fight Lennox had at a Chicago bar after a political ad appeared on the bar’s television. The ad — and repeated ads he had seen during the campaign — made Lennox “angry,” prosecutors said, and a “heated argument” began between Lennox and his friends, leading him to send a voicemail to Bailey’s Springfield office, prosecutors said.
“I’m going to skin Darren Bailey alive, making sure he is still alive, and I’m going to feed his f****** family to him as he is alive and screaming in f****** pain,” prosecutors say Lennox said in the voicemail. He also made statements about abortion in his message.
He further said, “He is a piece of white a** racist s***, and honestly if he doesn’t kill himself, I will. You know what? I know where he lives. I know where he sleeps. I know where his kids sleep. And I know the f****** school he works at,” prosecutors allege he said. Lennox also said “the candidate teaching all this mother f****** misinformation is going to die. So honestly he should just kill himself before anything else happens.”
…Adding… Bailey statement…
“Divisive, inflammatory, and misleading rhetoric is driving hatred across our state as some attempt to label political opponents as dangerous threats,” Bailey said in a statement Wednesday. “Whether we agree or disagree on policies, we are all Americans. I pray this young man gets the help he needs. We must bring our state together and fight for the safety and prosperity of every Illinoisan.”
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 11:47 am:
Hope he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Too many sick people out there to brush this off. We have to condemn violence where ever we can.
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 11:52 am:
21 years old. not sure what kind of life he was living before this moment, but with a North Lake Shore address doesn’t sound like it was too shabby. Now I’m not sure of his future. I realize there have been threats to politicians and political candidates going back many years. But to keep hearing about them on an almost daily basis along with the rhetoric on social media and cable news regarding political violence and nutty conspiracy theories is so disturbing. Threatening to mutilate someone because you’re so opposed to their political viewpoints is sick and twisted. I hope Bailey and his family can feel safe after this.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 11:52 am:
Utterly unacceptable and anyone who does this should be charged and convicted.
- ste_with a v_en - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 11:53 am:
There has been such a large increase in this kind of behavior, it’s scary. Glad he was caught.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 11:54 am:
Glad he was arrested and prosecuted. Threatening violence over politics is always unacceptable. I just wished everyone felt that way.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 11:54 am:
Prosecute to the fullest, keep the felony intact, a plea to a lesser charge should not negate the felonious nature of this.
- Kristan - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 11:55 am:
Rabble Rousing and Incitements to Violence are so commonplace online now that it’s leading to a breakdown of civil government and rule by law. Social media companies need to be liable for a allowing not removing posts that have the potential to lead to violent acts. Currently federal law protects them from liablity. It is the interest of Democracy and law and order, that this “protection” be removed.
- 26th precinct - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:03 pm:
==Threatening violence over politics is always unacceptable. I just wished everyone felt that way.==
Agreed. Watch it be universally condemned by Dems in the state…
- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:03 pm:
Awful. I hope no one excuses or minimizes it like some on the right have done re the Pelosi attack.
- New Day - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:09 pm:
Shameful. Absolutely disgusting. Agree completely with everyone that he should be fully prosecuted and denounced. We can’t be do what some GOPers are doing about the attempted Pelosi assassination and either condone it or dismiss it. This is a problem in our culture and we must denounce it in the strongest possible terms.
- Travel Guy - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:13 pm:
==I just wished everyone felt that way.==
Until they do, Ron, people will continue to choose violence on both sides of the aisle…maybe one more than the other.
- Jerry - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:23 pm:
@Big Dipper: well said.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:23 pm:
Horrible and this needs to be condemned with vigor by all.
Frustratingly, this will become part of the both sideism retort from MAGA. Yes, there are deplorable acts on both extremes. However, today we see an asymmetric difference on one side. We know which side that is. There will be no propaganda media conspiracy attempt to discredit the news of this criminal act against Bailey.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:26 pm:
I hope Bailey and his family are doing okay. These things can be jarring to people and no one deserves to experience it.
- Techie - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:27 pm:
Definitely sick behavior, and he should be held accountable for his actions.
- New Day - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:30 pm:
“There will be no propaganda media conspiracy attempt to discredit the news of this criminal act against Bailey.”
Exactly.
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:32 pm:
It seems that months and months of Pritzker and his minions demonizing Mr Bailey have had some effect. Just like all the anti-Pelosi rhetoric from the MAGA crowd, right?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:34 pm:
terrifying. disgusting. the hate and violent rhetoric has to stop in our national discourse. people get emboldened. his prosecution will be an example to change.
- Walker - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
Completely unacceptable and must stop. Best wishes to Bailey and his family, and special thanks to security professionals.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 1:03 pm:
Let’s pray for justice to prevail, and then let’s move on. We all have things to celebrate I am sure.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 1:11 pm:
No need for this nonsense. Hope he gets serious jail time. Can’t imagine how many threats are recieved by politicians these days just because someone disagrees with them. Wish every person making a threat could be tracked down, arrested and jailed.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 1:33 pm:
props to Larry Bowa, Jr. let’s add thoughts and prayers.
- Hot Taeks - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 1:43 pm:
What an idiot this guy is. 21 years old and throwing away your life with horror movie depictions of threats left on a politician’s voicemail.
- New Day - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 1:47 pm:
Democrats condemn. Republicans condone.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 2:20 pm:
I will note, his bond is $75,000 and under the SAFE-T Act, the Court could refuse any pre-trial release.
- Betty Draper’s cigarette - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 2:38 pm:
===Right?===
No
I don’t recall any “minions” saying someone should hurt Bailey.
I’m glad the young man was caught before anyone was hurt. Truly terrible.
- MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 3:30 pm:
Neither violence nor threats of violence have any place in our democratic system.
All such acts must be full-throatedly condemned.
– MrJM
- Comptroller Susana Mendoza - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 3:47 pm:
Absolutely despicable. Agreed that the full weight of the law should fall upon this person. I hope the States Attorney’s office does not offer reduced charges. He needs to be made an example of. There is no place for threats of violence in a civil society and democracy. I hope Senator Bailey and his family are safe and wish them well.
- levivotedforjudy - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 4:10 pm:
This is horrible and I am glad he has been caught. But is anyone really surprised with the way things are going? Gabby Giffords? Pelosi’s husband? Now this. We need help as a nation.
- FormerParatrooper - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 8:01 pm:
The casualness of these threats and actions are concerning. I don’t care whether you are a left, right or in the middle, these acts are immoral and serve only to separate us and are condemnable.
I agree with the sentiment the full weight of the law shall fall on these people. But not just for those who make these threats to politicians, but to all of us.
- really? - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 9:59 pm:
As a conservative this may sound like an oxymoron in theory, but if he was at a bar, I’m assuming drinking, and probably “showing off” for friends, is this really worth a felony? People do dumb things, but was there really a threat or just grandstanding? I know the political climate is contentious and I will never condone violence or threats, but is this really a threat or a regret the nest morning with no “real” harm done?
- Fivegreenleaves - Wednesday, Nov 2, 22 @ 10:47 pm:
I’m not a fan of Darren Bailey, but no one should be threatened with violence. This is sickening.
- Dave C - Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 8:39 am:
==is anyone really surprised with the way things are going? Gabby Giffords? Pelosi’s husband? Now this.==
Don’t forget Steve Scalise was shot in 2017. Sadly this is not really anything new. As long as hateful political ads are allowed, this will not change. There are radicals on both sides - which makes neither side truly safe. Violence is never the answer.