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Feds emailing around, but “unlikely to lead to any criminal charges”

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Illinois

Federal prosecutors in Chicago are amassing records related to property tax assessments conducted under former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, including a tax break given to Gov. J.B. Pritzker after toilets were removed from a Gold Coast mansion he owned. […]

In all, the U.S. attorney’s office requested records related to more than 100 properties, obtaining the information through emails sent to current Assessor Fritz Kaegi. […]

In addition to seeking records on the assessments of Pritzker’s side-by-side mansions on Astor Street in the Gold Coast, the U.S. attorney’s office also requested information related to assessments and appeals filed by the Schmidt, Salzman & Moran law firm “on behalf of entities affiliated with the Pritzkers, including (the) Hyatt (hotel chain), Astor Street and Pritzker Group, from Jan. 1, 2016 to present,” according to documents provided to the Tribune through an open records request. […]

A federal source with knowledge of Blanchard’s report said it was unlikely to lead to any criminal charges. However, the source cautioned, the federal government has a number of ongoing public corruption investigations, and authorities do not know where all those efforts ultimately could lead.

Most of those 100 properties do not appear to be Pritzker-related. Go read the whole thing for more.

It’s telling that they’re only requesting public info via email instead of through grand jury subpoenas, which would be used in an actual investigation. As the source noted, one never knows where stuff like this can lead, but this is much less worrisome than the Madigan/ComEd stuff. Right now, anyway, there’s no comparison.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:15 am

Comments

And they are going to find people using the vacancy relief provision. If the vacant properties have renters then people are going to be charged. Many properties used the VRP. Trump Towers for example.

Comment by Fly like an eagle Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:23 am
So glad to hear that JB appears to have been given preferential treatment.

Comment by Ostomie Wedgie Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:26 am
“So glad to hear that JB appears to have been given preferential treatment.”

How and by who?

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:31 am
Why would the US Attorney use a subpoena with a local government if the relationship is positive and the local government is willing to turn over documents upon request? The USA sends emails to the AG’s office all the time asking for documents in active investigations - they don’t subpoena the AG.

Comment by radio flyer Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:36 am
===they don’t subpoena the AG===

Yeah, a fellow law enforcement agency,

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:41 am
Individuals and entities seeking to curry favor with prominent people is a major problem. Berrios’ substantial reduction of Pritzker’s property taxes is a serious issue. If Pritzker was seeking a standard reduction, something many of us do, and Berrios saw an opportunity to curry favor, is that still on Pritzker?

Comment by OK Boomer Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:46 am
@OK Boomer: that’s the same issue as in the speakers involvement. If you’re heading out ice cream cones and you give me an extra one to win favors, is it my fault? Especially if I don’t know you gave me extra?

Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 11:19 am
==and Berrios saw an opportunity to curry favor, is that still on Pritzker?==
How would Berrios know he was currying favor? The property was an LLC.

Comment by 17% Solution Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 11:43 am
@Socially Distant watcher agreed. Who is in the wrong? My understanding from the article is that there were no other examples uncovered of situations where a Pritzker property was given a similar windfall. MJM got many people, many jobs but does that make him criminally responsible for those who made the hires and then required little or nothing of their employees?

Comment by OK Boomer Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 11:46 am
@Socially distant, your logic fails when it comes to MJM not being aware of ComEds ‘generosity”
These were not ice cream cones that were being given out.
They were ratepayer dollars.
15k a month to the legal counsel and political director the Monday after they left government service.
Plotting to put Mapes on the payroll to advise on Pennsylvania lobbying effort.
Allowing MJM to tell Mike Z he got him the contract.
This is not a situation where he saw his opportunities and he took’em.
This is one of many examples (Medicaid HMOs, Video Gaming, etc.) of a systematic shakedown of a major corporation to feed MJM political machine in the wake of the end of government patronage and the rise of money as the dominant factor in electoral politics.

Comment by Altgelds Ghost Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 12:18 pm
Isn’t this a classic example of a “fishing expedition”?

Comment by Annoyed Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 12:24 pm
More like fishing where the fish are

The Cook County Inspector General has determined JB engaged in a scheme to defraud Cook County taxpayers

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 12:58 pm
== The Cook County Inspector General has determined …==
He had an opinion, yes. Just like everyone has a certain part of their anatomy.

Comment by 17% Solution Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 2:03 pm
The Cook County Inspector General issued a “Finding” not an “0pinion”.

Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 2:30 pm
Emailing around? I think the feds are doing much more than that here.
If JB really wanted to be transparent about this he would have his brother in law and the personal assistant make themselves available to discuss it publicly.

Comment by Charlie B Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 3:00 pm
“finding” is a judicial ruling, “found guilty” or “found innocent.” What trial happened?

Comment by 17% Solution Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 3:19 pm