Latest news with #KwameRaoul
Chicago Tribune
16-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Former sheriff's employee pleads guilty in theft, making repayment
A former Cook County sheriff's office employee has made partial restitution after pleading guilty to theft of COVID-19 pandemic stimulus money, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office. Raymond Harris, 45, of Calumet Park, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of theft exceeding $10,000, a felony, a news release from Raoul's office. Harris fraudulently applied for and received about $20,000 in a Paycheck Protection Program loan, according to the release. Harris was employed by the Cook County sheriff's office in 2021 when he fraudulently applied for and a received the PPP loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming that he owned a sole proprietorship business that did not exist, according to the sheriff's office. Harris paid $2,500 in restitution upfront, with Cook County Judge Michael Pattarozzi ordering Harris to pay the remainder in $382 monthly installments and to complete two years of second chance probation, according to the news release.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois attorney general investigation of DuPage County clerk a concern for county's Democratic growth
When activist Jean Kaczmarek was elected DuPage County clerk seven years ago, she became the first Democrat elected to countywide office in 84 years and her subsequent work as clerk to make voting easier and more available was lauded by the party faithful. But the appointment of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office as special prosecutor to investigate Kaczmarek's office over allegations of official misconduct has prompted concern among Democrats that the gains they have made in wresting significant control of the once strongly Republican suburban county could be at risk. Kaczmarek, hailed in 2022 by the Democratic Women of DuPage County with its leadership award, is already facing a primary challenge as she seeks a third term next year. And her previous budgetary actions helped lead to a change in state purchasing law for most Illinois counties — a law that is now at the center of the Raoul investigation. DuPage County Circuit Judge Bonnie Wheaton's order on Monday appointing Raoul's office as special prosecutor is rooted in more than two years of internecine battles between the Democratic clerk and the Democratic-led DuPage County Board involving the often labyrinthine world of budgetary control and power in county governance. Even before the special prosecutor appointment, each side had filed civil suits against the other over such issues as Kaczmarek's ability to make budgetary transfers from one account to another without informing the county's chief financial officer from where the money was coming — as other county agencies and offices are required to do. In defending the moves, Kaczmarek is leaning on an April 2023 advisory opinion from Raoul that says a county board's budgetary authority over county officers using 'internal control provisions' is limited to appropriating lump sum amounts for equipment, materials and services. 'The attorney general's office has been crystal-clear for decades on this issue and it's time DuPage County started following the law,' Kaczmarek said in a statement a day after the special prosecutor appointment. 'The job of the County Board is to fund the office, not to micromanage operations.' But DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin, one of only three GOP countywide officeholders and the legal counsel for both the board and the clerk's office, said that under state law the clerk's transfers 'must be accomplished in such a manner for the County Finance Department to track' them. 'You were cautioned that expenditures in excess of an appropriation are prohibited, and a violation may result in prosecution of a Class B misdemeanor,' Berlin wrote to Kaczmarek's chief deputy clerk, Adam Johnson, in a May 2023 email. 'Further, a violation of any of these laws may constitute official misconduct by the public officer and/or the employee. Penalties may include forfeiture of the office or position, in the case of an employee, and is also a Class 3 felony.' The Democratic-led county board has sided with Berlin amid concerns over Kaczmarek's power, contending that there is a lack of transparency and a failure to follow traditional bidding rules. It led Deb Conroy, the county board's chair since 2022 and a former Democratic legislator, to travel to Springfield last year to persuade her former legislative colleagues to change state purchasing law to specifically put controls on the actions of elected county officials like Kaczmarek. 'The DuPage County Board and I work diligently to ensure our offices are fiscally responsible and that they comply with procurement laws and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,' Conroy said in a statement. 'For years, we have expended significant time and energy to persuade the clerk's office to comply with these procedures. I went to Springfield in 2024 to clarify the law, ensuring the statute specifically outlined bidding guidelines for elected officials.' The new law, which took effect Jan. 1, requires elected county officials outside of Cook County to bid out 'services, materials, equipment or supplies in excess of $30,000.' Nine days after the law took effect, however, Kaczmarek signed a contract with Prager Moving & Storage Co. to transport early voting booths for this year's spring municipal elections, Berlin wrote in requesting a special prosecutor. The firm billed the clerk for $113,710, above the $30,000 bidding threshold, but the clerk's office has refused to give the county auditor any documentation to prove the contract was bid in order for the payment to be made, Berlin wrote. 'The County Auditor's office is not a court to which the County Clerk submits evidence in order to obtain the Auditor's subjective approval of her internal operational decisions,' Johnson, the chief deputy clerk, responded to the auditor's request for bidding documentation, according to Berlin's court filing. In another instance in April, the county auditor's office received a $115,997 bill from Governmental Business Systems for election supply kits, such as ballots, supplied to the clerk's office. The auditor requested more information from the clerk about the invoice, but the clerk has not provided any, and the auditor won't process the bill for payment. 'The clerk's failure to comply with the competitive bidding law may constitute official misconduct,' Berlin told the DuPage court, saying the county board knows the county could be sued for nonpayment of the invoices — something that prompted the board to request 'an investigation into possible misconduct.' Because Berlin legally represents both the clerk and the county board, he has a conflict of interest and requested Raoul's office step in as an independent special prosecutor. Wheaton granted the request and Raoul's office has agreed to the role. In a statement after the special prosecutor appointment, Kaczmarek said she would 'welcome the involvement of' Raoul's office but said the action was 'simply another example of the lengths to which Bob Berlin will go to avoid admitting being wrong about the law.' Berlin, in response, issued a statement saying, 'In my thirty-seven plus years in public service, my ethics have never been called into question. I have no vendetta against anyone. All I am trying to accomplish is to ensure that everyone follows the law.' The new state law contains one exception for bypassing competitive bidding — professional services. Those are generally defined as professions in which a government-issued license is needed for the work to be performed, such as lawyers, accountants, physicians or architects. In an interview with the Tribune, Johnson, Kaczmarek's chief deputy clerk, contended the contracts awarded for moving and supplying polling equipment and ballot materials were 'professional services' that exempted the clerk from having to bid out the work. 'The act of moving 250 pieces of sensitive equipment throughout the county to polling places that by law have to be open at 6 a.m. the next day — yes, we do believe that that requires the professional expertise of our vendor,' Johnson said of the moving and supply contract. He said the same held true for the ballot kits, citing the March 2018 primary night fiasco of misshapen ballots that hampered vote counting — an issue that effectively ended the DuPage County Election Commission and merged its duties into the clerk's office. 'If people go back and look at the issues that the election commission had with improperly produced (ballot) cards that caused the election night catastrophe, my feeling is, if you can ruin the entire election by doing your job wrong, that sounds like a professional risk to me,' Johnson said. Beyond the immediacy of the investigation by Raoul's office is the potential fallout for Democrats if the probe concludes that prosecution of a criminal nature or official misconduct is warranted. Once considered a Republican firewall against Democratic votes out of Cook County, DuPage County since Kaczmarek's 2018 election has seen Democrats now hold six of the nine countywide elected offices and 12 of the 18 county board seats, with the countywide-elected chair, Conroy, also being a Democrat. Democrats privately fear that a prosecution of the clerk could halt their advances, with many wondering why the clerk and county board couldn't simply work out their differences. Now, Kaczmarek, who in May announced her 2026 bid for reelection as clerk, faces an announced Democratic challenger, county board member Paula Deacon García of Lisle, who Conroy is backing. What's more, there are also Democratic concerns that a highly visible prosecution could give Republicans an opportunity to regain the office. Such a development could potentially curb the expansion of voting opportunities created under Kaczmarek, such as increasing early voting sites and allowing people to vote at any polling place in the county on Election Day. 'It's disappointing that an investigation is needed,' Conroy said in her statement. 'However, I'm grateful the attorney general's office will investigate, provide information and determine the appropriate next steps.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
FBI arrests Dixon man on 6 charges of disseminating child sex abuse images: Illinois attorney general
Jul. 4—DIXON — A Dixon man was charged with disseminating images of child sexual abuse after federal and state law enforcement agencies searched his home. Heath A. Knipple, 46, was charged Wednesday, July 2, in Lee County Circuit Court with six counts of Class X felony dissemination of child pornography, with each listing the victim as younger than 13. The charges are all alleged to have occurred on June 27, 2024, according to Lee County court documents. Each charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison if Knipple is convicted. The charges were filed the same day that state and FBI investigators, along with Illinois State Police officers, searched Knipple's residence in the 1200 block of Fourth Avenue in Dixon, according to a news release from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The release stated Knipple was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material. He is being held in the Whiteside County Jail in Morrison, with a detention hearing set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, in Lee County Circuit Court. He is being represented by Sterling Attorney James Mertes. According to the news release, the case is part of Raoul's ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. "Child exploitation is a horrific crime that is made even more reprehensible when the alleged offender is an active and trusted member of the community," Raoul said. "My office's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels to locate and bring to justice individuals who engage in the exploitation of minors." Raoul's office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives online reports of child sexual abuse material from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the past several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2024, reports to the ICAC increased by 11% over 2023, according to the release. Illinois' ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is composed of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has received more than 60,000 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,000 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 45 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force has also provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and law enforcement professionals. Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at and child abuse at Local child advocacy centers can be found at Deputy Bureau Chief Shannon O'Brien is prosecuting the case for Raoul's High Tech Crimes Bureau.
Politico
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Pride, politics and power
Happy Monday, Illinois. We're getting to that lazy-day-of-summer feeling. TOP TALKER Chicago's political glitterati sipped coffee and side-eyed their rivals at the Fat Cat diner Sunday morning during a buzzy pre-Pride Parade reception — an affair that took on a political tone after two headline-grabbing U.S. Supreme Court decisions rattled Illinois Democrats. The high court's rulings — one green-lighting religious exemptions from LGBTQ+-themed schoolbooks, the other reining in federal judges' ability to block policies impacting birthright citizenship — cast a shadow over the annual celebration. 'I remember marching 30 years ago when this was a protest. Then it became a celebration. Unfortunately, this administration is taking us backwards,' Gov. JB Pritzker told your Playbook host. Illinois Atty Gen. Kwame Raoul didn't mince words either, saying he's more focused than ever on litigation challenging the court's ruling affecting birthright citizenship. 'We need a nationwide injunction to get complete relief,' Raoul said, pointedly. 'You can't say, 'You're a U.S. citizen in Illinois but not in Missouri.' That doesn't make sense.' The Fat Cat vibe: Think Manny's Deli on Election Day but with a crowd of political candidates dressed in colorful parade attire and wearing comfortable shoes. There was political intrigue: Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson entered and exited from opposite ends of the restaurant — no glad-handing, no eye contact, not even a shared selfie opp. Coincidence or careful choreography? And with the 2026 election cycle already casting its long shadow, the real game on Sunday was more 'strategic avoidance' than parade prep. U.S. Senate candidates Juliana Stratton, Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi were all spotted working the room — but notably steering clear of each other. In politics, proximity is power. On Sunday, distance said more. RELATED How another Supreme Court case has changed Illinois: 'The political action committee that for decades supported candidates who back abortion rights in Illinois — making the state a haven for reproductive choice — is taking its political playbook to red states, including Indiana and Arkansas, which virtually ban the procedure,' via your Playbook host. Chris Murphy calls birthright citizenship ruling 'dangerous,' by POLITICO's Cheyanne M. Daniels Activists say celebrations are more critical as U.S., conservative states such as Indiana rescind LGBTQ+ protections, by the Tribune's Angie Leventis Lourgos At Pride Parade, Chicagoans show support for LGBTQ+ community: 'It's more important than ever,' by Block Club's Charles Thrush and Jake Cox THE BUZZ NEW TODAY: The Democratic National Committee is ramping up efforts to build up the party brand this summer by holding events in 35 targeted districts across the country, including in Illinois. Watch for voter-registration drives — something the DNC has for years left up to nonprofits — and mobilizing thousands of volunteers to engage in social media and local community groups to promote the party's initiatives. The goal of 'Organizing Summer,' as the campaign is called, is to create authentic conversations in non-political spaces, both within volunteers' personal networks and in their communities. Watch for discussions to pop up in sports forums, community groups, book clubs and on social media platforms, echoing the hyper-local campaign efforts that Barack Obama made in his early presidential campaigns. 'We're going to be at concerts, county fairs and sporting events,' said a person familiar with the plans. WHERE'S JB At the 555 West Monroe state offices at 9:30 a.m. to sign into law college access and affordability bills that will support high school students across Illinois WHERE's BRANDON At Malcolm X College at 6 p.m. for a 2026 budget roundtable Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — 'I don't shy away from a fight': Pritzker's run for atypical third term fits unprecedented times: Asked if his decision would have been different if former Vice President Kamala Harris had defeated Trump, Pritzker said he did not think so, but reemphasized that 'in this moment, it feels like walking away is the wrong thing to do given who is in the White House and given how this administration is attacking people all across this country,' via Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore. — More intrigue on who Pritzker might pick as his No. 2: Along with Deputy Gov. Andy Manar, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, former Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell and Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, who we mentioned earlier this month, state Rep. Lisa Hernandez's name has popped up, by the Tribune's Olivia Olander and Rick Pearson. — Jessica Vasquez, recently appointed as Cook County commissioner for the 8th District, launched her campaign over the weekend to run for a full four-year term in 2026. The campaign launch follows an early fundraising effort in which she raised more than $13,000 in small donations. 'I'm a daughter of this district. I was born and raised here,' she said in a statement. 'I'm committed to protecting our immigrant communities, defending access to affordable housing, and delivering the bold, compassionate leadership our communities deserve.' ILLINOIS' POPE — Pope Leo looks to MAGA megadonors to shore up Church finances: 'Wealthy American conservatives hint they're ready to cough up again to rescue the scandal-ridden Church from going broke,' by POLITICO's Ben Munster, Hannah Roberts and Megan Messerly. THE STATEWIDES — Pritzker says Illinois needs to address 'property tax problem' in coming years: 'It's not just a one-time solution, it's something that requires us to increase investment in education, that is the biggest problem. You get your property tax bill, most of that is paying for education locally,' Pritzker said at a campaign stop last week, via Peoria Journal Star's JJ Bullock. — Illinois' gas tax goes up this week, by NBC 5 — Law taking effect July 1 in Indiana creates the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission, by News 25's Howard Packowitz CHICAGO — Median sales price of a Chicago home is $390,000: 'The latest housing report from the Chicago Association of Realtors found the median sales price of a Chicago home in May increased about 8 percent year over year,' by the Sun-Times' Mariah Rush. — Mayor's 'pending' Springfield lobbyist team draws ethics questions: 'We couldn't have them declare that they were under contract with the city if the contracts weren't finally approved,' the mayor's new lead Springfield IGA director, John Arena, said. 'So it was kind of a catch-22, but because they were already under contract with a client … we were going to exchange information that was relevant to those particular fields,' by the Tribune's Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner and A.D. Quig. — A once-resplendent bandstand in Garfield Park is getting the $2M restoration it deserves, by the Sun-Times' Lee Bey — City outlines safety protocols for Damen Silos demolition, by the Sun-Times' Cindy Hernandez — The rodents of Chicago are evolving in real time, scientists say, by Elizabeth Rayne for Popular Mechanics — PAC launched by Paul Vallas is behind texts slamming Mayor Johnson and some progressive aldermen for their 'snap curfew' vote, by the Triibe's Tonia Hill — Opinion: Decision to get rid of the tipped minimum wage is leading to more restaurants closing, according to a Tribune editorial COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Sharp drop in arrests, other long-term crime trends shown in new Cook County data dashboard: 'What we've been seeing for a decade is a shift in thinking about how we respond to crime,' said David Olson of Loyola's Center for Criminal Justice, by the Tribune's Madeline Buckley. — Plainfield monument dedicated to slain 6-year-old Palestinian American, by Shaw Local's Denise M. Baran-Unland — Back story| Why MLK came to DuPage County in 1967: The Civil Rights leader visited a 'tent-in' protest against construction of an atomic energy accelerator in Weston where Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory would be built, by the Daily Herald's Katlyn Smith. — Campton Hills in Kane County ranked among best small towns, via Travel & Leisure TAKING NAMES — Raul Garza, CEO of Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness, has been unanimously elected chair of the Cook County Health System board of directors. Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry was elected vice chair. Reader Digest We asked what music you like listening to outdoors. Denise Barreto: 'Caribbean Soca beats are synonymous with sun and heat.' Lee Blackwell: 'Common and Chance the Rapper, both speaking out through their music and telling their stories, both from Chicago, rooted in Chicago, and both always giving so much back to Chicago. To hear them outside together on a fall evening would be my dream come true.' Ted Cox: 'David Murray's 'Shakill's Warrior' is greasy good jazz, with Don Pullen on the Hammond B-3, and my default for barbecuing ribs.' Phillip Crivellone: 'The Allman Brothers Band always sets the tone.' Christopher Deutsch: 'Super chill electronic music without lyrics. Artists such as Tycho, Com Truise & Lights Out Asia are my top recommendations.' Henry Haupt: 'Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers!' Carlton Hull: 'Rhythm and blues.' Jarod Hitchings: 'Roy Orbison is my go-to while swimming laps in the pool.' Jim Lyons: 'Classic rock.' Dan Mattoon: 'The Beach Boys.' Jeff Nathan: 'The Byrds.' Timothy Powell: 'A Grateful Dead concert, which lasts about the same length as my daily bike ride.' Gail Purkey: 'Soul, R&B.' Enza Raineri: 'Bruce Springsteen or the Beach Boys.' Timothy Thomas: 'The late Al Jarreau on the Sirius XM playlist.' Bill Utter: 'Anything under the Ravinia Pavilion.' Corrine Williams: 'Country music.' Steven Zaris: 'Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty's solo work.' NEXT QUESTION: What's your favorite beach? THE NATIONAL TAKE — Canada drops digital tax that angered Trump to resume U.S. trade talks, by POLITICO's Yurii Stasiuk — Trump won't let other countries score big 'wins' in trade talks. Both sides could lose, by POLITICO's Daniel Desrochers and Megan Messerly — Republican Sen. Thom Tillis denounces GOP megabill's Medicaid cuts in fiery speech, by POLITICO's Mia McCarthy and Jordain Carney — Trump tried to fire them, but some Democratic appointees are still on the job, by POLITICO's Hassan Ali Kanu EVENTS — Tuesday: A book launch for 'Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre.' Details here TRIVIA FRIDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that Route 66 starts at the intersection of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. That's where the historic marker is located, though the Mother Road, as it's called, originally began on Jackson Boulevard at Michigan Avenue. The Tribune featured a Route 66 story over the weekend. TODAY's QUESTION: What was the first school in Illinois to retire a Native American-themed mascot? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cook County Circuit Court Judge Linda Perez, Wilmette Trustee Mike Lieber, Worth Township Clerk Eamon McMahon, former state Rep. Dave Winters, lobbyist John Kelly, Executives' Club of Chicago CEO Dorri McWhorter, Governor's Office Senior Policy Adviser Emily Miller, political strategist Norm Sterzenbach and Democratic activist Paul Jones -30-
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘It's about people power.' Three Democratic state AG's talk about taking on Trump
Across the country, state attorneys general are taking on the Trump administration by challenging the president's attempts to expand his executive power in court. In a new episode of 'Can They Do That?' MSNBC Legal Correspondent Lisa Rubin sat down with three Democratic AG's who are leading the legal pushback to Donald Trump: Kwame Raoul of Illinois, Matthew Platkin of New Jersey and Keith Ellison of Minnesota. Rubin began the episode by noting that for many decades, states' rights were the 'rallying cry of the political right and the conservative legal movement.' She asked the AG's to explain why Americans of 'all political stripes' should care about state sovereignty, which, Rubin argued, 'is a concept that many people, particularly on the left, haven't thought a lot about in the space of thinking about threats to democracy.' 'I think it's fair to say that today, your rights and privileges as an American citizen vary based on what state you live in,' Platkin said. 'If you want to be free from gun violence, if you want to make sure you have access to reproductive health care, if you want your kids to get a quality public education — all of those are meaningfully different depending on whether you live in a state, frankly, with attorneys general like us or not.' Rubin asked which Trump policy the attorneys general believe poses the greatest threat to the rule of law and state sovereignty. 'The usurpation of the National Guard in California, to me, is the big, ugly threat to American democracy,' Ellison said. Raoul agreed with Ellison, noting that although Trump may be focused on California now, any state could be next: 'Illinois, we anticipate, will be targeted.' The Illinois attorney general told Rubin he expected that the administration might attempt to use the same tactics in Chicago as it did in Los Angeles, an idea he called 'outrageous,' considering that he thinks Chicago proved it could control large crowds without assistance from the federal government during last summer's Democratic National Convention. When Rubin asked Platkin if the president's actions had dragged the U.S. into a constitutional crisis, the New Jersey attorney general said it would 'be impossible' to say no. 'Given that we've had the president, the vice president, the attorney general and their representatives in court openly either defying or threatening to defy court orders, I think we are,' he explained. Ellison stressed that while he and his fellow attorneys general would continue to take on Trump in court, it was also important for everyday Americans to join in the fight. 'The American people are coming out more and more every day, more people who've never been to a protest march in their lives,' Ellison said. 'So I think, yes, we're going to keep on suing, but I also think it's important for us to continue to communicate with the public and give people hope that we can protect and defend and extend our democracy. And because it really is, at the end of the day, it's about people power.' Watch Rubin's full conversation with Raoul, Platkin and Ellison in the video below. This article was originally published on
