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Ahead of today’s Executive Appointments Committee meeting, Irvin campaign calls for Senate rejection of Pritzker’s picks

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Illinois

* Press release…

Ahead of today’s Senate Executive Appointments Committee hearing to review JB Pritzker’s appointments to the Prisoner Review Board (PRB), the Irvin for Illinois campaign is calling for lawmakers to stand with police and reject Pritzker’s extreme appointees who have repeatedly voted to release cop-killers.

Last week, the Senate rejected another Pritzker appointee to the board - Jeffrey Mears - in a bipartisan vote. This week, the Senate will vote on two more Pritzker PRB appointees - Oreal James and Eleanor Wilson - who voted to grant parole to the following offenders:

• Joseph Hurst: Convicted of killing Chicago police officer Herman Stallworth and wounding Stallworth’s partner with a bullet to the face. On February 25, 2021, the PRB voted 8-4 to pardon Hurst, with Oreal James and Eleanor Wilson voting in favor of parole.
• Johnny Veal: Convicted of killing Chicago police officers James Severin and Anthony Rizzato. On February 25, 2021, the PRB voted 8-4 to grant parole to Veal with Oreal James and Eleanor Wilson voting in favor of parole.
• James Taylor: Convicted of killing State Trooper Layton Davis during a traffic stop, and attempting to kill a motorist who witnessed the murder. In August 2020, the PRB voted 8-5 to grant parole to Taylor, with Oreal James and Eleanor Wilson voting in favor of parole.

Even radical Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx strongly opposed parole for Johnny Veal, saying his killing of officers Severin and Rizzato had been a “cold-blooded execution”. But Pritzker’s extreme PRB still voted to put him back on the street.

“JB Pritzker continues his attack on police officers through these latest appointments,” said Irvin for Illinois spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “On top of his anti-police bill, today Pritzker has again turned his back on the police by continuing to support the confirmation of these candidates. Pritzker should withdraw their appointments permanently, and if he refuses, the Illinois Senate should vote to reject them.”

You can watch the committee hearing by clicking here.

Discuss.

* Related…

* Republicans tout ‘moral victory’ in blocking Pritzker Prisoner Review Board nomination

* Here’s why Senate Democrats blocked Pritzker’s Prisoner Review Board appointee

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 28, 22 @ 2:21 pm

Comments

Can’t wait for Governor Irvin to make an argument to vote for his PRB picks…

Comment by SaulGoodman Monday, Mar 28, 22 @ 3:00 pm
My suggestion to the Irvin folks would be to not stick your neck so far out on this issue when your own oppo book so easily refutes your statements.

But hey - have to make sure Ken Griffin signs off in those statements!

Comment by Anchors Away Monday, Mar 28, 22 @ 3:20 pm
These three individuals didn’t get some easy pass here. Veal was 17 years old when he did this in 1970. He was paroled at age 68. I don’t know about you, but I’m a completely different person than I was when I was 17 and I’m nowhere near 68.
Hurst was paroled at 77 years old for a crime committed in 1967. Taylor was paroled at 70 years old who a crime committee in 1976.
Why people think we need to keep geriatric folks locked up never ceases to amaze me. These 3 individuals lived for decades, like half a century, behind bars in prisons where people go without basic healthcare. Their remaining years of life aren’t going to be easy. We let people come out of prison. Simply because their victims were police doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have an opportunity to be released.

Comment by Fun with numbers Monday, Mar 28, 22 @ 4:04 pm
-Fun with Numbers
Thank you for some specifics… your point is well taken. How much punishment is enough? No limit? If they were sentenced with an eligibility for parole, then parole should be contemplated on an individual basis as the law allows.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Mar 28, 22 @ 4:14 pm

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