By Illinois Review
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau released a statement on Thursday responding to a story about the improper release of US Air Force military records of eleven people, including several Republican members of Congress and former Republican congressional candidates.
Although Pekau is not on the list, he sent an email to supporters, stating,
“I am deeply disturbed that my records may have been released illegally. I echo the calls from Reps. Bacon and Nunn for further investigation…”
In a follow up post on Facebook, he claimed that his records were released, writing,
“I am proud to have served my country in the United States Air Force. Not only did I get to fly the F-15E, the best fighter jet in the world at the time, but the people I served with were the finest people that America has. It pains me that many of our personnel records were released and used in vile political attacks. Democrats should be ashamed and all Americans should be appalled. This needs to be investigated immediately and those accountable punished to the full extent of the law.”
But archived data and social media posts prove that in June of 2022, Pekau happily released his own military records, even tweeting on June 14, 2022,
“Unfounded rumors continue to swirl about my military service…It is unfortunate that people who have never worn the uniform would stoop to this level. However, I am more than happy to make my service record public so you can judge for yourself.”
Pekau then links to his website where the contents of his military records have since been removed.
On another website that memorializes website content, an archived page from Pekau’s congressional website, which has since been removed, shows Pekau proudly displaying his military records under the headline, “Keith was Honorably Discharged.”
But in an odd twist for publicity, Pekau now claims the very same military records that he happily released in June, may now have been illegally released by the US Air Force, instead – even though his name is not part of the congressional inquiry.
Eleven Republicans are included on that list, but Pekau’s name is nowhere to be found. In various news articles, the names of those whose military records were released do not include Pekau’s.
Perhaps the next time Pekau tries to claim his records were illegally released, he should remember that everything is archived even after you hit the delete button. And although he may have deleted evidence on his website and on his Facebook page, he forgot about his Twitter account.
Maybe next time he will be more thorough.
Difficult to know if the information which may have been leaked through unofficial channels from the USAF is above-and-beyond what then-congressional candidate Keith Pekau released during the 2022 campaign.
The full disclosure will take place, and the investigation will be thorough as it should be.
Given all the allegations of “stolen valor” seen in recent years, anyone claiming to have worn the uniform should have their official discharge papers ready to share when asked. As seen in the highly competitive open seat FL-19 Republican primary in 2020, pictures of a younger person in uniform resembling the present day candidate is not enough proof. Discharge papers are, but indications are USAF veterans had more released to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee then discharge papers.
Concerning Pekau, a more interesting read is his Financial Disclosure reports (FD), required filings for congressional candidates under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended. An FD filing is above and beyond the campaign disclosure reports candidates file under the Federal Election Commission Act.
In 2022, Pekau filed both his initial report, and an amendment. While amendments to FDs happen all the time and is not by itself a strike issue, the contents are most important.
Pekau’s 2022 filings of both his original and amended FD can be found here:
Original: https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/public_disc/financial-pdfs/2022/10049715.pdf
Amended: https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/public_disc/financial-pdfs/2022/8219040.pdf
While I cannot say the reports are incomplete, they were a little sloppy, to the point Pekau had to file an amendment.
When one reads the contents of FDs, one must remember disgraced Congressman George Santos (R, NY-03) is undergoing an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, who oversee FDs.
Difficult to know if the information which may have been leaked through unofficial channels from the USAF is above-and-beyond what then-congressional candidate Keith Pekau released during the 2022 campaign.
The full disclosure will take place, and the investigation will be thorough as it should be.
Given all the allegations of “stolen valor” seen in recent years, anyone claiming to have worn the uniform should have their official discharge papers ready to share when asked. As seen in the highly competitive open seat FL-19 Republican primary in 2020, pictures of a younger person in uniform resembling the present day candidate is not enough proof. Discharge papers are, but indications are USAF veterans had more released to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee then discharge papers.
Concerning Pekau, a more interesting read is his Financial Disclosure reports (FD), required filings for congressional candidates under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended. An FD filing is above and beyond the campaign disclosure reports candidates file under the Federal Election Commission Act.
More to post on this FD topic under separate cover.