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* Background is here if you need it. Joliet Patch…
Amid allegations of grooming, the Illinois executive director of the House Republican Majority is calling for Shorewood Republican Tom McCullagh to drop out of the primary for State Representative in the 97th District. […]
“In light of this extremely disturbing information, Tom McCullagh should immediately withdraw as a candidate for elected office and seek help,” Jayme Siemer, executive director of the House Republican Majority, said in a statement to Patch. “Children should always be protected by adults, and our prayers are with the victim of this horrific situation.” […]
According to Channahon’s police report, McCullagh met the juvenile last summer at Channahon’s Three Rivers Festival, and he spent considerable time with them on a golf cart.
In mid-November, the juvenile’s family contacted the Channahon police, a few days after the family discovered the juvenile had received a bottle of Smirnoff Marshmallow Vodka on the night of Nov. 9, 2021, according to the police report. The youth told their parents the alcohol was given to them by McCullagh.
According to Capitol Fax, the publication reached out to McCullagh for comment, and he responded by stating, “That my political opponent would leak this to you demonstrates how desperate my opponent is.”
Smirnoff Marshmallow Vodka and a juvenile. Ugh.
* Shaw Media…
Channahon Deputy Police Chief Adam Bogart said no charges were filed in the case because the family of the alleged victim declined to prosecute.
McCullagh directed questions to Eric Blatti, an attorney based in Joliet whom McCullagh described as a “family friend.”
While Blatti said he couldn’t comment on the specifics of the police report since he had not seen it, he described the surfacing of the accusation as a “smear campaign.”
“It’s a shame that Republicans are doing this to each other,” Blatti said. […]
Blatti dismissed the surfacing of the accusation as a political move to get McCullagh to drop out of the race.
Yeah, well, McCullagh did drop out late yesterday afternoon.
* As subscribers know, McCullagh supporters Sen. Darren Bailey and Rep. Chris Miller both demanded that he get out of the race.
I didn’t hear from this candidate, though…
* You may remember McCullagh from 2020…
The self-declared “Trumpocrat” [Rod Blagojevich] will headline an Aug. 27 fundraiser in St. Charles to support a west suburban Republican state Senate candidate and “to celebrate President Donald J. Trump’s RNC 2020 nomination,” six months after Blagojevich was freed with a commutation from his former reality television boss. […]
Illinois Republican Party leaders called it “a bad idea,” but GOP candidate Tom McCullagh said he invited Blagojevich to “highlight corruption in Illinois, and how to fight it.”
“I’m not defending him or his actions in any way,” McCullagh said. “He’s been speaking out against Mike Madigan’s corruption since he got out. That’s the only reason I would involve myself with a person of such notoriety: to outline how the Madigan machine works, and how to dismantle it.” […]
McCullagh, who had $286.38 in his campaign fund at the end of June, wouldn’t say how much Blagojevich is being paid for the appearance.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:09 am
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Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Mapes grand jury excerpts released
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Bird on a Bat-how ’bout them ethics?
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:13 am
Weird how there’s this national messaging and legislative push to defend our children from being violated by the LGBTQ+ community and Democrats, yet nearly every time a news story pops about a public official and sexual misconduct involving children…
…ah well. They’re probably all outliers.
Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:15 am
I notice that he didn’t deny the allegations, though.
Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:19 am
For all the Q Anon insanity about protecting the kids, the modern Republican Party should really be looking within. Please go check out the the anti-LGBT bill just passed in TN that also removes any age limits to marriage and was sponsored by someone who met his wife while shepherding her through college on a scholarship.
Comment by Chicago Blue Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:22 am
Before that Will Smith thing came up we were already talking about grooming thanks to a new Florida law - and I won’t repeat the talking point on that. Grooming, ugh now that I understand what that means. A doggone shame!
Comment by Levois J Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:22 am
Methinks all the conservative talk about grooming is projection. Well, I only thought that until Tennesee confirmed it this week.
Comment by Dankakee Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:24 am
The Republican Platform is all projection example #10,000,000
Comment by SWIL_Voter Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:24 am
“It’s a shame that Republicans are doing this to each other,” Blatti said.
In other words, “Republicans should be able to groom your kids without ratting on each other.”
Good luck out there on this particular ledge, Eric John Blatti. What a credit to the legal profession.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:26 am
The party of family values.
Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:26 am
“ Channahon Deputy Police Chief Adam Bogart said no charges were filed in the case because the family of the alleged victim declined to prosecute.”
If allegations are true, this is a child, shouldn’t be an option to not prosecute. How many other kids could there be?
Comment by B-Hills 60010 Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:28 am
“because the family of the alleged victim declined to prosecute.”
This isn’t a requirement in the law. Why is this being accepted as a reason? The requirement is that he knows the person is a minor.
The States Attorney could easily bring charges, but is clearly refusing to. Their office must be too busy instead bringing charges under an obscure township code to try and remove another elected public from office. But that guy isn’t white, so there’s that…
Jim Glasgow should not escape unquestioned on this.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:29 am
===Channahon Deputy Police Chief Adam Bogart said no charges were filed in the case because the family of the alleged victim declined to prosecute.===
Thinking of the pushback against, and this “need” for parental notification for abortion…
The family refused to press charges, so those who are outraged by that but require parental notification for abortion, really come to terms with what is happening to children, all the horrors.
Tom McCullagh makes me ill.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:32 am
Very scary and awful. Hope that kid is getting help.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:38 am
@Chicago Blue: It has always been projection. When closeted bigots keep insisting that other people are choosing to be gay, it is because that is their own life experience which they project onto others. Or when someone insists their opponent is trying to steal elections because that is what the speaker would be doing in their shoes.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:39 am
I just want to make sure I understand the reasoning of the Channahon police department.
Because there’s also currently a case in the Will county courts against a diocese employee, for grooming and traveling to meet a minor. His defense is trying to dismiss some of the charges under the reasoning that because the person who ran the sting wasn’t really a minor, there are no guardians to press charges.
We are about to have an actual court case make a decision on whether what the Channahon police chief is determining on his own, is the law.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:42 am
==Police Chief Adam Bogart said no charges were filed in the case because the family of the alleged victim declined to prosecute.==
Adam must’ve forgot the victim is a freaking juvenile and he’s an adult. He might want to study up on federal law 18 U.S. Code § 2422
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:54 am
The approval of the boy’s or girl’s parents is not a requirement for prosecution. It’s the People of the State of Illinois v the defendant. The prosecutor represents the people of the state, not the parent(s) or even the boy or girl.
Comment by Southern Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:01 am
And to think, just yesterday, someone posted
“Teachers and social workers are better crime fighters than Police officers?”
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:10 am
“It’s a shame that Republicans are doing this to each other”
Tell us you expected the Jim Jordan treatment without saying you expected the Jim Jordan treatment.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:12 am
This man who had a campaign website that listed his work or advocacy supporting women who are victims of abuse was under investigation for grooming a minor child and if it weren’t for his political campaign and the rumors around that then it is very unlikely that his grooming of minors would have ever come to light.
The breakdown of having any accountability for his efforts at grooming a minor which included supplying them with alcohol simply enables a predator like Tom McCullagh to move on to their next victim without meaningful legal or social consequences. It is good that he was running for office for the sole purpose that this investigation and allegations could come to light.
This is a matter of public safety and it should not be left to 3rd parties to determine whether or not the predator targeting their daughter should see criminal charges for the behavior. That’s a formalized version of looking the other way so long as your daughter isn’t the target anymore.
This was reported. It was investigated. The evidence seems to be pretty damning and then it just went away.
The GOP is complaining about car jacking and accusing the Democrats of being soft on crime while they’re ignoring the child sex predator problem their party seems to be having, and for whatever reason local police didn’t seem to think it was worth actually arresting and charging the individual.
Was a States Attorney even asked to weigh in on this case before the effort to sweep it under the rug as Tom McCullagh pursued his campaign to represent tens of thousands of Illinoisans?
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:29 am
While the prosecutor can file charges without the permission of the victim, filing charges and going to trial can have serious, negative impacts on the victim. The victim is often re-victimized by the process; so, they (or their parents) may choose not to participate. If the victim chooses not to participate, the prosecutor can have a very difficult time making their case.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:31 am
I get why folks are frustrated that no charges are being pursued, but if the parents and the juvenile are not pursuing it, then the SA has no case. Everything else becomes hearsay without the juvenile or the parents’ testimony. And they aren’t going to threaten to throw the juvenile or the parents in jail to compel testimony in this situation.
Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:38 am
== Everything else becomes hearsay without the juvenile or the parents’ testimony. ==
Except for, you know, the evidence on the phone the police department already has.
The parents and/or the juvenile don’t get to make the determination of his mental state. The law he broke involves him believing a person was a minor. Nothing about that requires the victim or their parents to agree to anything. It’s how predator stings are run (in other areas obviously) by cops in their 30s pretending to be children online, and there’s an identical case currently in our county for someone arrested for this.
So don’t come here and pretend to know the law, trying to confuse people so you can defend a child predator.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:44 am
===then the SA has no case===
So no one else has standing?
The parents now are the only ones decide a child is or is not a victim to seek legal discourse?
My questioning here is to my thoughts to parental notification and abortion, and children, not of age, and children, again, facing things that may not allow for actual rights the children have.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:45 am
“- Anon324 - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:38 am:
I get why folks are frustrated that no charges are being pursued, but if the parents and the juvenile are not pursuing it, then the SA has no case.”
Too much TV…leads one to believe they understand law?
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:52 am
==For all the Q Anon insanity about protecting the kids==
It is always, ALWAYS about projection with them.
Comment by paradox Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:54 am
Don’t know why this stuck out so much to me, but is the gender of the victim normally redacted in cases like these involving juveniles?
Comment by CT Guy Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:54 am
“It has always been projection.”
See e.g. Hyde, Henry
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:00 pm
- how ’bout them ethics? -
How ‘bout ‘em? 1 rotten Republican, how many Dems looking at jail time in just last year?
Comment by 20 foot Commuter Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:01 pm
“- Anon324 - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:38 am:
I get why folks are frustrated…”
I’m frustrated by ignorant amateur lawyers.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:01 pm
=== How ‘bout ‘em? 1 rotten Republican===
Now do the insurrection
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:02 pm
== 1 rotten Republican ==
Just a friendly reminder that much of this district was also shared with Dennis Hastert.
It’s possible it’s more a location problem than a party problem, but for now this location has been electing republicans - who keep getting caught doing this.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:06 pm
Slightly off point, but the FB post on the Marter for Congress fundraiser was a little sad. Looks like they could have fed all of the attendees with an order of chicken nachos.
Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:20 pm
=The States Attorney could easily bring charges, but is clearly refusing to.=
Help me out, which party was all over the place just yesterday, howling about democratic SA’s not prosecuting cases? Oh yeah, it was the ilgop.
Hypocrites.
=1 rotten Republican=
Does George Ryan ring a bell? How about Dennis Hastert?
As OW pointed out, how about Jan 6th. Chris Miller comes to mind.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:30 pm
“That my political opponent would leak this to you demonstrates how desperate my opponent is.”
Desperate, in some circles, is plying young, impressionable children with S’more flavored alcohol.
I’ll note, for the record, that there is a (well reasoned) difference in perception between corrupt elected officials who line their pockets and child predators.
How ’bout them ethics.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:54 pm
Unless it is specifically confirmed or reported, I am fine with giving the States Attorney the benefit of the doubt that their office was never given an opportunity to determine whether or not to bring charges.
Individual police officers are not experts in the law and the certainly may not understand that the victim and public in this matter both have a stake in the investigation that would very likely be different than the view of one or both parents. Parents do not own their children.
The information that was publicly presented doesn’t seem to include that the police obtained a search warrant for Tom McCullagh’s phone. Even without testimony or cooperative witnesses there is plenty of evidence to justify a warrant for Mr. McCullagh’s device, and the charge for supplying alcohol to a minor also seems pretty open and shut even if it is not as alarming as grooming a child.
This whole matter needs an outside investigation into the conduct of the police department, and potentially the conduct of the states attorney office. We would only be so lucky if this is the first or the last child that McCullagh preys upon and we should all be concerned that McCullagh’s candidacy may have impacted or prevented the investigation from proceeding to indictment.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 1:27 pm
Also, Marshmallow Vodka should bring a charge itself.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 1:47 pm
Just in case anyone missed this, this is the first paragraph from the bio at his campaign website which now appears to be down.
===I am first and foremost a loving husband and a father of two girls. Everything I do is with my family in mind. Every day I envision a community where my children and our neighbors grow and thrive. I became a small business owner early in my years, as a way to contribute not only to my family, but to the community. I’ve partnered with several organizations to help respond to the needs of others; namely, I’m an executive director for K9s for Veterans, volunteer with the Guardian Angels rescuing women in abusive situations, and answer every call to help a friend in need.===
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 1:47 pm
It’s highly unlikely this investigation was conducted without consulting the state attorney’s office. Frequently, criminal investigations are done in consultation with one or more attorneys in the SA’s office. The police don’t decide whether or not to charge an individual. That ultimately is a decision by the local S/A.
Comment by Not an amateur attorney Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 1:49 pm
= there is plenty of evidence to justify a warrant for Mr. McCullagh’s device =
For fun, search the following phrase;
“father mcgrath cell phone”
This isn’t an isolated incident in Will county.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 1:52 pm
I triggered the auto moderation, but I think everyone is missing what the police did here. Grooming isn’t illegal in itself. It’s virtually indistinguishable from mentoring a young person in law. What we do know is that the adult provided a juvenile with alcohol illegally. I have never heard of police or prosecutors declining to prosecute that crime because of the wishes of the victim’s family. It may happen, but it is pretty unusual. There may be other crimes, but from the story that seems to be the primary violation of law.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 2:03 pm
==What we do know is that the adult provided a juvenile with alcohol illegally.==
and talking via Snapchat for three months…the preferred messaging app for a 33yo mentoring a minor. /S
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 2:55 pm
===and talking via Snapchat for three months…the preferred messaging app for a 33yo mentoring a minor. /S
LOL–very true–my point being that in itself is creepy, but not illegal from what we know in the story. Now, I would not be shocked if it went into illegal territory, but it’s baffling the alcohol charge wasn’t made regardless of the rest.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 2:57 pm
==I’m frustrated by ignorant amateur lawyers.==
The ARDC has no concerns about my qualifications, but thanks. Nor do they have issues with my colleagues who actually are responsible for making decisions like this on a regular basis. But please do continue with YOUR amateur lawyering.
Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 3:13 pm
Anyone trying to equate a corrupt politician with a child sex predator should, for the rest of their life, never be taken seriously.
Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 3:29 pm
===my colleagues who actually are responsible for making decisions like this on a regular basis.===
I recognize that that there are burdens to meet in order to prove beyond a reasonable doubt and things like grooming would have a higher standard, but that doesn’t explain the issue with not charging him for providing alcohol to a minor.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 4:34 pm
The perennial candidate that did not comment publicly that you reference above in the 14th did opine in LaSalle County last night that this was a Republican establishment witch hunt. I’d like to hear more on his profound thoughts on this topic.
Comment by LaSalle for Bailey Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 5:11 pm
=== Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 4:34 pm:
I recognize that that there are burdens to meet in order to prove beyond a reasonable doubt and things like grooming would have a higher standard, but that doesn’t explain the issue with not charging him for providing alcohol to a minor.===
https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/amid-grooming-allegations-tom-mccullagh-dropping-out-state-race
Comment by 47 Indian Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:50 pm