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Republican delegation asks US Attorney to probe Pritzker

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Illinois

* ILGOP press release…

Today, the Illinois Republican Congressional Delegation sent the following letter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. The letter calls for a full investigation into JB Pritzker’s “scheme to defraud” Illinois taxpayers by ripping toilets out of his mansion to claim the property as uninhabitable.

See the letter signed by all seven members of Illinois’ Republican Congressional delegation below:

October 3, 2018

The Honorable John R. Lausch, Jr.
United States Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division
219 S. Dearborn St., 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604

Mr. Lausch:

We write to call your attention to a recent Cook County Inspector General investigation which concluded that Jay Robert (J.B.) Pritzker engaged in a “scheme to defraud” Cook County of over $300,000 in improper property tax reductions and refunds.

As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cook County Assessor’s Office in 2015 reduced the assessed valuation of a mansion owned by Mr. Pritzker from $6.25 million to just under $1.1 million. These reductions allowed Mr. Pritzker to claim $132,747.18 in refunds for property taxes paid in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and reduced his property taxes for 2015 and 2016 by $198,684.85.

The Inspector General’s report concluded that the assessment reductions were reduced due to fraudulent affidavits submitted by Tom Muenster, Mr. Pritzker’s brother-in-law, and Christine Lovely, Mary Kathryn (M.K.) Pritzker’s assistant. These affidavits falsely claimed that the mansion had been “vacant and uninhabitable,” with no working toilets, since January 1, 2012. The Inspector General report found that, contrary to the affidavits, the toilets had been removed on October 6, 2015, just ten days before a scheduled appraisal of the property, at the direction of M.K. Pritzker. According to an email obtained by the Inspector General, Ms. Pritzker directed that the toilets be removed for the express purpose of allowing the house to be declared uninhabitable.

The facts described in the Inspector General’s report appear to constitute fraud and perjury. Since the improperly-obtained refund checks were sent to Mr. Pritzker through the U.S. Mail, a violation of 18 USC 1341 (the Federal Mail Fraud Statute) may have occurred.

Illinois, perhaps more than any other state, has suffered greatly due to public corruption. Four of Illinois’ last nine governors have gone to prison. It is important to send a strong signal to the people of Illinois that no one is above the law, not even billionaires running for Governor. For that reason, we urge you to fully investigate this matter with all due speed.

Sincerely,

U.S. Representative Peter Roskam (IL-6)
U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12)
U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (IL-13)
U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14)
U.S. Representative John Shimkus (IL-15)
U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL-16)
U.S. Representative Darin LaHood (IL-18)

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:29 am

Comments

And while he’s at it, maybe he could probe the guy who is currently and illegally defrauding 20,000 state employees out of their proper steps, in defiance of the appellate court and the LRB.

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:34 am
Interesting litmus test they’re applying to Pritzker. Seems at odds with the way they’re dealing with the investigation into our Commander in Chief. But since they’re suddenly become concerned about tax cheats maybe they’ll also right a letter demanding an investigation into the issues raised by the New York Times yesterday.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:34 am
“not even billionaires running for Governor” … billionaireS, eh? Ok. I eagerly await the letter from these patriots calling for an investigation into a scandal that left a dozen veterans dead.

Comment by Anonymiss Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:34 am
Now I want to see the Same request made about the Quincy Veteran’s deaths. As a Veteran I am beyond upset by the handling of the entire affair. It is time for a complete investigation. I care very little about toilets, but I care a great deal about the death of American Veterans.

Comment by Retired Educator Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:38 am
Desperation move.

As OW has been saying for months, this should have been settled at the outset. J.B. could govern from a prison cell better than Rauner has done.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:39 am
This is going to leave a mark.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:40 am
Yes this is blatantly political and will come to nothing, but it’s the serious way to chime in on something like this, unlike toilets on the sidewalk.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:40 am
That will help give the story a little more traction, but it won’t matter in the end. Pritzker could probably drop out of the race at this point and still win.

Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:41 am
This isn’t going anywhere, and it’s too late to help Rauner.

There’s no getting around the fact that JB and crew played fast and loose with the rules for personal gain. Sadly all that does is qualify him to be governor in Illinois.

Comment by SSL Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:41 am
Reply from USAO: I will look into your complaint when I return from vacation on November 7th.

Comment by Han's Solo Cup Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:42 am
How’s thst ignoring your own oppo going now, Pritzker Crew?

You have members of Congress writing the US Attorney about the “Scheme to Defraud”.

Between not “knowing” if there are any more tapes with Rod… to this property tax issue, the gross negligence of not handling this quicker… I’m dumb-founded that for months and months… this has festered… to this.

Y’all are spending $207K a day. It’s 9+ hours in since midnight, so roughly… $71K has been spent today… and still… I’m reading about the “Scheme to Defraud”.

This is in total contrast to the incredibly effective ads and attacking campaign, going after Rauner.

Did you even hire anyone to do any oppo on yourselves?

If you did… if you did… did this come up?

I ask because, well, how can something so obvious, so fundamental to campaigns… be bungled this poorly?

You have the candidate’s wife, a brother in law involved in this… you have a report that may not have been even started, or at least blunted with paying… wait for it… $334K…

Fundamental campaign miscues, things that should be done and taken care of well before anyone should even care about this.

Have ya even cut the check yet?

What exactly are y’all waiting for?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:42 am
Pritzker will win because he is running against Bruce Rauner. If he was running unopposed he would lose.

Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:42 am
Your concern about corruption and tax fraud is duly noted, Trump minions.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:43 am
So, Republicans, how many veterans did JB kill?

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:43 am
The self righteous chest thumpers calling for an fraud investigation of a political figure while ignoring the deaths of veterans under the care of the State is disgraceful. Where is the moral outrage from Bost, Shimkus and Kinzinger, all veterans, at the needless deaths of their fellow veterans?

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:45 am
Hearing nothing but crickets on the furniture building ‘funny’ lease.

Comment by Al Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:46 am
Rich,
In the future, when I refer to JB “Scheme to Defraud” Pritzker, can I simply use each of the first letters of “Scheme to Defraud”, or will that get me banned for life?

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:49 am
Harrumph-harrumph.

Wait til these guys wade through that NYT epic.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:50 am
Greg Heinz made a notable point yesterday that the greatest consequence of this action by JB may very well come after the election. This is a much un-needed headache on top of all the other problems that the next governor will face.

Comment by People Over Parties Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:53 am
===This is going to leave a mark.===

It sure will… on the Congressmen. Poisoned air killing people in Willowbrook and Quincy, no big deal. A billionaire trying to save 330,000 on taxes, world ending. For crying out loud, when will elected Republicans show some semblance of credibility?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:54 am
How about Paul Manafort offers to pay back all the taxes and penalties he owes?

Then, “no harm, no foul”, right JB?

Comment by Sentence Slinger Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 9:58 am
The ILGOP needs to work on their timing, especially when bigger scandals (Sterigenics, Quincy) fall right in the middle of your “scheme”.

Now that he owns it, JB should state, “Unlike Rauner, my actions never hurt anyone.”

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:00 am
At 11:59 pm tonight…

The Pritzker Crew will have roughly spend double the $334K on their campaign since the report.

Lil perspective.

Carry on.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:00 am
Correct method, wrong theory. JB used a lawyer who possibly conspired with Berrios. There are most likely emails and phone records for the novice investigator to find. Berrios is arrogant and probably left a paper trail. This is an ongoing criminal conspiracy for many years. The first one in will flip.

Comment by Taxpayer 1 Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:01 am
It’s tax fraud, circa 2015 and Pritzker is alive.
It’s not tax fraud, circa 1993 with Fred Trump dead.

The statutes of limitation, and his own life has expired.

But not for Pritzker.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:02 am
@Sentence Slinger

Comparing a guy who worked for a murdering foreign adversary, lied about, and hid the money to a guy that bought the house next to his to and tried to save money on the taxes? Okay. You roll with that.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:04 am
America’s largest collection of empty suits aka IL GOPies Congressmen awaken to attack JB while ignoring Quincy and GovJunk Poison Plant. Sheer genius. Many of them are goners too.

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:04 am
Can we even expect the same outrage from these pillars of righteousness and good government about the Quincy Veterans Home?

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:05 am
I agree with all the whataboutism on this thread that point to Rauner’s failings to a point. I am trying to wrap my head around the facts and whether there are legitimate grounds for the feds to investigate JB. Saying Rauner (or Trump) did worse things (which I think they did) doesn’t answer that question.

Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:09 am
@VanillaMan, “It’s not tax fraud, circa 1993 with Fred Trump dead”…

Can I borrow your glasses? I’m just curious what the world would look like, if I could read words describing all of the Trump family both lying and at least twisting the truth multiple times over the course of decades to defraud the federal government of $500 million dollars, where the words “illegal” and “fraud” are blatantly put to use to describe at least subsets of the schemes, and come to the conclusion that A) there was no illegal activity, and B) only Fred Trump did any of the illicit activity.

It would be such a unique experience, not to have to live in reality anymore.

I mean, if you are going to take an ambiguous affidavit, which may or may not have had nefarious intent -it seems likely but we don’t know-, and say it is a smoking gun, you have to say the Times has their own smoking gun.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:21 am
@Montrose

Fair point. From the news I have read to this point, the affidavits in question point to possible false statements made by JB’s wife and brother-in-law. So I would make the argument then that JB was not part of a scheme to defraud but more of bystander. Not saying he is totally innocent of all blame. But he himself personally never schemed to defraud.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:24 am
Kind of silly to send the letter and politicize the office. Don’t you think they are reviewing it already. There probably at least going to send out subpoenas

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:29 am
The only way to this point that criminal actions by politicians and police in Illinois can be practically investigated with any results is by the federal government. This is partly because the IL Attorney General’s office cannot convene a statewide grand jury, by design to allow corruption to flourish.

The reason that police torturer Jon Burge was able to operate openly for twenty years is because Richie Daley was state’s attorney at the time in the early 1980’s, and the Chicago Dem Machine owned judges, etc. Madigan is like an old Outfit boss, he’s too well insulated to take down, his orders go through layers of underlings, but the USAO-NDIL can prosecute Pritzker.

Comment by Payback Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:30 am
This is full desperation mode by Rauner and his GOP allies. Their internal polls must not be looking much better than the ones we’re seeing.

Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:32 am
I note that Roskam is a signatory. IIRC, none of his district is in Cook County but Willowbrook is.
Why isn’t he calling for an investigation into the DEATHS in his own district instead of a property tax claim not in his district?

SO GLAD that he is no longer my Congressman, not that I’m enamored by my current Congressman or his Republican opponent. Why or why don’t we have “none of the above” as a ballot choice? Because it would win in Illinois?

Comment by Streamwood Retiree Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:33 am
Lock them up, do the perp walk, god-speed. The state GOP has found county corruption. Going after your rivals family is mob like

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:37 am
Quincy Veterans Home in 5….4…3…2….

Let’s see if JB’s crew has it in them to make this happen.

Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:40 am
Who could have seen that coming? This is a last ditch hail mary.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:42 am
Looks crazy desperate and disingenuous doing this a month before the election. Haven’t we known the same facts for a long time?

Comment by get real Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:48 am
===Haven’t we known the same facts for a long time?===

Yes but the opinion of a county inspector general that it was a “scheme to defraud” is new news. We got no new facts, just a new opinion.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:04 am
Are the Republican congressmen introducing themselves to the USAG because some of them might need a new job after November?

Comment by a drop in Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:10 am
If this is all the Republicans got this Illinois election cycle… they really are in trouble.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:11 am
So these busters will be writing a letter to the US Attorney regarding: Quincy, Sterigenics, and Trump’s tax fraud, violations of the emoluments etc.

Right?

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:14 am
Feds should look into this for a pattern. JB’s wife isn’t the mastermind. Where did she acquire the idea for this? Attorney? Former County employee working for attorney? A dream? This issue here is this a one-off or a larger public corruption scandal despite the IG report?

Comment by qualified someone nobody sent Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:18 am
Those veterans died in LaHood’s district. Yet LaHood is worried about Chicago property taxes that have no impact on his district?

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:20 am
If you haven’t read the report and the affidavits yet, please do. There were multiple reasons the house was uninhabitable, including damage, mold, structural deficiencies, and undergoing a rehab. The toilets were the least of them. And the affidavits do not specifically say when the toilets were removed, although I agree they are mildly misleading. The CCAO made a judgment based on multiple factors. JB and family will not be facing charges, but that is obviously not what this is about.

Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:35 am
Sincerely,Please also investigate the delay in the Quincy Legionnaires disease notice asap.

U.S. Representative Peter Roskam (IL-6)
U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12)
U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (IL-13)
U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14)
U.S. Representative John Shimkus (IL-15)
U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL-16)
U.S. Representative Darin LaHood (IL-18)

Comment by DeseDemDose Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:10 pm
@A Jack

Very good point. I live in Lahood’s district. I’ve met the man, shaken his hand, and looked in his eyes and saw the back of his head. He will do nothing that isn’t overtly partisan veterans’ lives notwithstanding.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:55 pm
Ducky called it right. Nothing in the letter indicates JB had anything to do with it. He did not own the house outright and the letter didn’t try to track indirect ownership to him, and his name and signature do not appear on any of the documents pictured or in their descriptions. Hard to prove that a man knowingly made false statements to get property revalued when he didn’t make any statements at all.

Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Lucky, I forgot that everything you read on the Internet along with everything from Rauner’s & Trump’s lips are true.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 3:20 pm
If Bost and Shimkus are really upset about JBs taxes, maybe they can throw just a bunch of papers up in the air and yell (Bost) or get up and walk out (Shimkus) when JB tries to explain himself. Hey, it worked for both of them in the past.

Comment by Dutch3001 Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 4:07 pm
Rauner may want to use the ‘Lie & Deny’ strategy.
I’m sure that Fox News will be all over this.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 7:23 pm
Feds won’t investigate, it’s a local issue.

Comment by Paceman Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 7:47 am