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* The governor spoke with reporters in Chicago today. Here’s the raw audio…
* Most of the questions were McClain-related…
This McClain email is emblematic of a culture that has been poisonous in Springfield for far too long. Those who protect the culture, those who tolerate it, those who promote it, well, they’ll have to answer for their role in it. […]
If an investigator contacts someone and asks them to cooperate, they should cooperate. Not put a smug grin on their face and laugh about not cooperating like Mike McClain did. And furthermore, anyone who thinks that it’s OK to talk about these things [rape and ghost payrolling] like they’re in a crime syndicate doesn’t belong in Springfield anymore. We need change.
* There was also this exchange…
Reporter 1: Are you saying that if the feds asked Mike McClain to cooperate against Mike Madigan that he should?
Pritzker: I think anybody that is interviewed by an investigatory body should be forthcoming with the information that they have. […]
Every person in Springfield needs to take a good hard look at themselves and ask what their role has been in creating this culture, the availability in engaging in corruption, the culture that I’m talking about that’s so poisonous. […]
Whether you’re a leader, or a member, or a lobbyist or anybody engaged in that Springfield culture, you gotta ask yourself what direction you’re taking things, or what you’ve done to contribute to it or what you’re doing to alleviate the concerns that voters and the rest of us have about this culture and the corruption.
* Last excerpt…
I think there is a gathering storm for people who are headed in the wrong direction, the people who created this culture, the people who are contributing to it. As you know there are investigatory bodies involved just in this McClain email, including a former federal prosecutor our OEIG, including a prosecutor leading the state police… including a prosecutor in Champaign County that are all engaged in rooting out what’s involved in this particular matter with Mike McClain. And then there’s the broader matter which obviously the federal government and the FBI are looking into. So we’re going to know a lot more in short order. […]
Nobody belongs in Springfield who is engaging in this kind of corruption.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:14 pm
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“a gathering storm for…people who created this culture.”
While some on here somehow expect him to call for Madigan to resign, J.B. went further than he needed to in this interview.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:19 pm
This is the same Governor who was on tape with Blago, right? How clean are the mirrors in his house?
Comment by fs Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:20 pm
Amen
Comment by walker Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:22 pm
I wonder why JB Pritzker gave campaign contributions to so many people who’ve been in the news the last year? Some of that money has gone to individuals Mike McClain associates with.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:25 pm
“creating this culture….the people who created this culture, the people who are contributing to it ”
MJM’s Frankenstein - the culture.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:29 pm
=MJM’s Frankenstein - the culture.=
Hmm, do you think that just maybe Pritzker is sending him a message as well?
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:32 pm
===Some of that money has gone to individuals Mike McClain associates with===
LOL
If that’s your bar, then you need to leave this blog immediately.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:34 pm
More of this . . . . .lots more. This, in conjunction with many more loose emails from MCClain and others is how the entire sorted, corruption filled syndicate comes crashing down.
The Governor is the hammer that never existed before. Not owned and can’t be bought by the old guard. His guilty by association canning of Sullivan is telling.
Comment by Upon Further Review Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:34 pm
His own agencies’ rules say state employees can be fired for talking to the press.
That would be a good place to start.
Comment by Kratt MacGregor Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:36 pm
The holier than thou routine by Governor Glass Houses is getting a little old. JB, you hired Forrest Ashby (at the behest of these same people), you hired the legislator on the email chain as your AG director, you enjoyed numerous sources of support via MJM in the election, AND you were quoted by the Cook County OIG as part of a “scheme to defraud the taxpayers.”
At a certain point these reporters have to call the guy out. Billionaire “outsider” or not.
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:37 pm
“How clean are the mirrors in his house?”
What is on the tapes that you think smacks of corruption? In one, Blago asked for a bribe, and JB turned him down flat. Are you saying everyone who spoke to Blago is corrupt by definition?
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:45 pm
Given all everyone knows, it’s the best response the Governor could give and the best statement the governor could make about what is swirling.
There’s so much out there, but so much more we don’t know, in emails, phone conversations, what was found with search warrants…
The most important thing the administration could do at this moment, they did.
All that is known, keeping it pointedly wide to the overall is prudent.
If indictment(s) or more revelations come, what the governor did was set a table to then be more direct and pointed as warranted.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:50 pm
What the governor said.
The hammer needs to crash down on corruption—on those who are corrupt, not those who certain people want to be corrupt.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:54 pm
Says the person who committed property tax fraud.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:15 pm
“Crime syndicate”
I think we’ve heard language to that effect to describe certain powerful figures in Illinois…
Trying to put my finger on it…
I’m sure it’ll come to me…
Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:15 pm
I applaud the Governor.
Comment by illinoised Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:20 pm
=The hammer needs to crash down on corruption—on those who are corrupt, not those who certain people want to be corrupt. =
What I was thnking. You said it much more elegantly than I would have!
Comment by Streamwood Retiree Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:25 pm
“Says the person who committed property tax fraud”
He paid back the money owed. So it’s ok. /s
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:36 pm
JB’s efforts to portray himself as a reformer may be dogged by this issue:
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/bill-would-stop-pritzker-from-paying-state-workers-on-the-side/
Comment by Loretta Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:49 pm
“same Governor who was on tape with Blago, right”
Maybe he has thought long and hard about it? Unlike Blago and G Ryan…
Comment by Fav human Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:14 pm
The Blago tape and his still on going federal investigation that Pat Blanchard referred to the US Attorney about a scheme to defraud, and he says this. Omg coming from him that’s hilarious
Comment by Hard D Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:17 pm
Agree with the comment above- let the agency employees talk to the press. Specifically anyone involved in procurement or personnel. You can’t fix the corruption in this state until you gut CMS and DoIT.
Comment by Southern Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:18 pm
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
Winston Churchill
“No, I’m pretty sure this is the beginning of the end.”
JB Pritzker
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:23 pm
“Says the person who committed property tax fraud.“
Using the vacancy relief provision isn’t fraud, however the vacancy relief provision as a law isn’t a good idea.
Comment by 17% Solution Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:24 pm
Wow. The Talking Points email to attack the Governor’s interview must have been sent to all the piggies with their snouts in the trough and their surrogates.
What was wrong with the Governor saying people should be forthcoming with the information they have?
What was wrong with the Governor asking people to determine if they are doing what they can to address Springfield’s culture and corruption?
What would you have wanted the Governor to say differently?
Thank you Governor. Well said.
Comment by Tommydanger Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:55 pm
Funny, Rauner said all the same stuff Pritkzer is saying now. But of course JB gets the slap on the back for it….
Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:55 pm
TOMMYDANGER AT 3:55 -
Read my post, rinse and repeat.
Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:56 pm
So JB is saying “because Madigan”. Pretty interesting.
Comment by SSL Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 4:37 pm