By Illinois Review
In late April, Naples-based Chicago radio host Dan Proft, in an episode on his podcast, Dan Proft Counterculture, launched into a bizarre rant on abortion and referred to President Donald Trump as a “tyrant” and a “dictator.”
“Trump is the strangest of all iterations of tyrants: one who believes in federalism as he acknowledged when he invoked the Bill of Rights (the 10th Amendment specifically) in response to criticisms from some pro-lifers,” said Proft.
“It is unusual for a dictator to concede limits to his power.”
Proft, who hosts his Chicago-based AM 560 radio show called Chicago’s Morning Answer in Naples, Florida– appeared awkward and uncomfortable in front of the camera – dressed in golf clothes – the standard uniform of a south Florida resident.
On Monday, Proft appeared before an Illinois State Board of Elections hearing officer, as lawyers discussed whether or not his PAC – People Who Play By The Rules, was illegally coordinating with Darren Bailey’s campaign when he was running for Illinois governor in 2022. As Crain’s Chicago Business reported, Profit appeared at the hearing 15 minutes late, agitated – “plopping” his golf hat on the table.
Bailey campaign officials, including Bailey – are not friends with Proft, or even acquaintances – far from it – but the campaign was in need of money from billionaire donor Richard Uihlein who was funding Proft’s PAC. Uihlein had indicated that he was not going to pour money directly into Bailey’s campaign – instead, he was going to give the money to Proft, whom he trusted. PAC’s must remain independent and they cannot coordinate with campaigns that they are supporting financially.
But as it was revealed on Monday, just one day after Bailey’s primary election victory, Proft requested to meet with Bailey and his campaign manager in a backroom of a Chicago Country Club where he slid over an envelope that he said contained $20 million. And like a scene out of a movie, Proft said Bailey could deposit the check if Bailey would hand control of the campaign over to him. A quid pro quo.
As the shocking story continues, Bailey refused to hand the reins over to Proft and offered him an advisory role instead. But Proft declined the offer saying that – as reported by Crain’s – “that Uihlein’s money would follow him” and not Bailey. After being denied, an angry Proft then told Bailey that he needed to fire his entire campaign team and then called Bailey’s campaign manager Jose Durbin – who was sitting across from him at the club – an “effing moron.”
During the 2022 governor’s campaign, Uihlein donated $10 million to Bailey and $42 million to Proft’s PAC – to support Bailey. The Republican nominee would lose to Gov. JB Pritzker by 12 points as the race would be called at the exact moment polls closed at 7:00 pm CDT.
As reported, Proft faces up to a $42 million fine.
UPDATE (April 29, 2024 at 8:07 pm): According to a representative from the Bailey campaign, Bailey’s campaign manager told Proft his creative was old and outdated and that Proft choked on his food and said, “I won’t ‘effing’ be lectured by a ‘effing’ 26 year old.”
