THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Pritzker on deportations...Acevado to testify...Programming notes
December 12, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
A quick programming note. We had an induction for our little girl scheduled for December 23, but she has decided “go time” is going to be even earlier than planned. So, we’re going to be a little truncated this morning and will probably shut things down for the year a little earlier than planned.
It likely means we’ll have to cut our “exit interview” pieces short, but if I have some time to compile them before the end of the year, I’ll get them out to you.
After the first of the year, we’re going to have some guest writers for the first few weeks of January so I can kind of ease my way back into things. I think you’ll enjoy what we have in store. The schedule may be a little different, and we’ll be making the content free for everyone unless I get you something breaking, which will still go to subscribers only. Everything is moving a little earlier than planned, so we’re trying to finalize some details on the fly.
That said, diapers are expensive, so if you’re not a paid subscriber, we hope you’d consider joining us. Here’s a little end of year discount (for new subscribers) to make it easier:
Thanks for all of your support. We’ll talk to you soon.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
Gov. JB Pritzker promises to protect immigrants, but says those convicted of violent crimes need to go (Chicago Tribune)
Two days after President-elect Donald Trump’s “border czar” said the threatened mass deportations of undocumented immigrants would begin in Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker again gave assurances that Illinois would protect all immigrants while also repeatedly saying he shared a desire to deport undocumented people convicted of violent crimes.
“Let me be clear up front: Violent criminals who are undocumented and convicted of violent crime should be deported. I do not want them in my state. I do not think they should be in the United States,” Pritzker said Wednesday at an unrelated event in Chicago.
The governor said he’d work to protect migrants seeking asylum, documented immigrants and undocumented people who had been living, working and paying taxes in the U.S. for many years.
Those remarks echoed his promises last month to shield his state from Trump administration policies he sees as damaging, declaring just after the election: “You come for my people, you come through me.”
On Monday, Tom Homan, Trump’s handpicked head of border issues, said at a Northwest Side Republican event that the mass deportations promised by the Trump administration will “start right here in Chicago,” according to news reports.
Asked Wednesday whether he’d work with Homan, Pritzker said he would work “just as I do every day, federal, state and local enforcement, on other matters.”
The governor said he would be “open to a dialogue” with Homan as part of the Trump administration but reiterated his belief that Homan doesn’t have the authority to carry out the types of mass deportations Trump has talked about.
Trump made concerns about immigration a key issue in his campaign, and while Homan’s position isn’t part of the president-elect’s Senate-confirmed cabinet, he figures to play major role in guiding border policy from the White House.
Pritzker criticized Homan for “making a political speech at a political township organization and attacking the people that you’re going to serve shortly.”
“When you take on the office of governor, you serve all the people while you’re serving in this position and I would expect that he would do the same in his position,” Pritzker said.
It may be the first sign Pritzker is considering moderating himself on a few issues, like immigration. We’ll see if it stays that way.
Related: Durbin takes Trump's dare to make a 'Dreamer' deal: 'Name the time and place, Mr. President, I'll be there' (Chicago Sun-Times)
Madigan judge says ex-Rep. Eddie Acevedo must testify at trial, rejects competency concerns (Chicago Sun-Times)
The judge presiding over former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s corruption trial ruled Wednesday that ex-state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo must testify if called by the feds — but defense attorneys warned that prosecutors summon him “at their own peril.”
U.S. District Judge John Blakey ordered Acevedo to testify despite concerns about Acevedo’s mental health. Prosecutors say they will likely call Acevedo, 61, to the stand Monday. He won’t undergo a video deposition that had been considered to safeguard his testimony.
Still, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu warned that Acevedo earlier made comments in front of a grand jury about Madigan that weren’t prompted by a prosecutor. A similar outburst at trial could be problematic and even lead to a mistrial motion.
Blakey and the lawyers met privately with Acevedo in the judge’s chambers on Tuesday. Then, the judge heard further arguments from the lawyers Wednesday morning. But it turned into a dizzying back-and-forth that Bhachu said even left his head “spinning.”
Defense attorneys explained that their earlier meeting with Acevedo did not leave them fearing an outburst from the former lawmaker. But Madigan attorney Dan Collins told the judge that Acevedo “lacks any type of recollection on the facts at issue.”
“This is going to be an absolute mishmash on the facts,” Collins said of Acevedo’s testimony.
Related: Ex-state Rep. Eddie Acevedo compelled to testify in Madigan corruption trial (Chicago Tribune)
Former Madigan ally ordered to testify in ex-speaker’s corruption trial (Capitol News Illinois)
TOP STORIES ON THEILLINOIZE.COM
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POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Recent incidents prompt heightened Statehouse security (Capitol News Illinois)
Illinois pensions face near-record $144B funding hole — but show some signs of progress (Crain’s Chicago Business)
As budget tightens, report finds Illinois better prepared for recession than in recent past (Capitol News Illinois)
Staffer in state representative's office falls ill after opening suspicious mail (Chicago Sun-Times)
Gov JB Pritzker appoints former Chicago transportation official to head IDOT (Chicago Tribune)
See the 10 finalists for Illinois’ new state flag (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Teachers' pension system bears brunt of state's underfunding (Champaign News-Gazette)
Opinion: Asserting the people’s control over government can be difficult (Shaw Media)