Sun Times photo of Pritzker homes on North Astor – on right is the toilet-less home
DC – Illinois' seven Republican Congress members want Chicago US Attorney John Lausch, Jr to "fully investigate" the Cook County Inspector General's report concerning the Pritzkers' Chicago homes. The report suggests gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker may have been involved in "fraud and perjury" that cut the billionaires' property taxes by $330,000 over five years.
"The facts described in the Inspector General's report appear to constitute fraud and perjury," the letter to Lausch says. "Since the imporeprly-obtained refund checks were sent to Mr. Pritzker through the US Mail, a violation of 18 USC 1341 (the Federal Mail Fraud Statute) may have occurred."
Those signing onto the letter are Republicans Peter Roskam, Mike Bost, Rodney Davis, Randy Hultgren, John Shimkus, Adam Kinzinger and Darin La Hood.
The letter goes on to say affidavits falsely claimed that the mansion next door to the Pritzkers' Chicago home was deemed "vacant and uninhabitable" with no working toilets since January 1, 2012. That distinction caused the $6.25 million residence's value to be lowered to $1.1 million – dramatically lowering the property taxes on the property next to the Pritzkers that they had purchased.
According to the IG's report, the toilets were removed much later, only ten days before the Cook County assessment – at the direction of the gubernatorial candidate's wife.
The IG called the Pritzkers' strategy as a "scheme to defraud."
No one should be above the law, the letter from the Illinois Congress members said.
"Illinois, perhaps more than any other state, has suffered greatly due to public corruption. Four of Illinois' last nine governors have gone to prison," the letter ended saying. "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…"
The letter also HERE:
I’m surprised Hultgren found the guts to sign it.
Couldn’t they have waited until a Republican has a chance of beating JB in 2022 instead of likely making Julianna Stratton Governor? Bruce is a loser. He’s going to reduce the Illinois congressional delegation to 5 Republicans, possibly only 4. Why doom our chances in 2022 for this man? Julianna Stratton would be much harder to beat.
JB stands for JAIL BIRD! haha (from Capitolfaxblog)
I think the US Attorney General should be asked to investigate Illinois state attorney general candidate Kwame Raoul for twice filing an inaccurate statement of economic interest. Partisan politician Lisa Madigan won’t do her job and charge him even though Kwame Raoul twice signed a statement of economic interest which includes this oath:
“I declare that this Statement of Economic Interests (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete statement of my economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. I understand that the penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement shall be a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment.”
He has demonstrated twice he is unable to read and comprehend a simple form. He wants to be the Illinois Attorney General but can’t even fill out a simple form… AFTER TWO TRIES. He obviously doesn’t have what it takes to be state attorney general, we can’t afford his incompetence and lack of integrity!
Gov Rauner has a duty to see to it Kwame Raoul is charged, he is not above the law. Rauner needs to contact Jeff Sessions so he can inquire as to why Lisa (I want to be governor) Madigan won’t act to hold Raoul accountable for his acts outside the law.
Illinois state govt is an embarrassment and a laughing stock to the other 49 states, is it any wonder the state population is declining?
I am proud to see that Congressman Adam Kinzinger also signed on to this. If this request to pursue the possible fraud that J.B. Pritzker allegedly committed is silently “swept under a rug” by the “powers that be” in Illinois and the FBI, then the citizens of Illinois will know that they are and have been living in a perpetual state of organized crime for decades. Citizens are wondering “when” President Trump will finally say “enough” and come to the rescue of the citizens of Illinois?