The family of Sheridan Gorman, the college student who was fatally shot by an illegal immigrant in Chicago, are slamming the sanctuary-policy-supporting leaders in Illinois for their response to her killing.
Jose Medina-Medina, 25, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rare-reason-keeps-illegal-alien-suspect-in-loyola-student-slaying-from-facing-court?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rare+Reason+Keeps+Illegal+Alien+Suspect+In+Loyola+Student+Slaying+From+Facing+Court">an illegal immigrant from Venezuela</a>, allegedly approached the college freshman wearing a black mask around 1 a.m. on March 19, and shot her as she tried to run. The 18-year-old Loyola University freshman was walking with friends to see the Northern Lights when she was fatally shot, her family said.
After former President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration released Medina at the border in May 2023, he wound up in Chicago, where he allegedly shoplifted from a local Macy&#8217;s that June, according to the Chicago Tribune. Medina failed to show up for his hearing in the case before a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded nearly a week after the killing, calling it an act of &#8220;senseless violence&#8221; and a &#8220;tragedy.&#8221;
&#8220;As I prepare to send my oldest son off to college this fall, I can&#8217;t stop thinking about the Gorman family as they bear the unimaginable loss of their daughter Sheridan. What I want for my child is what I want for every single child and every single person in this city. That is to be safe and to live out their purpose without fear. Disturbing acts of violence like this set us back as a city,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;We will not tolerate those who break the law and put the lives of others in danger.&#8221;
&#8220;I believe that we&#8217;re all grieving the loss of Sheridan and other folks who have lost their lives because of senseless violence.&#8221;
Gorman&#8217;s family hit back at Johnson, calling for accountability in the case.
&#8220;What happened to Sheridan cannot be reduced to a ‘senseless tragedy,’ nor can it be explained in general terms about public safety. Sheridan was our daughter. She was 18 years old. She was doing something entirely normal — walking near her campus with friends. She should be here,&#8221; the Gorman family said, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/gorman-family-calls-out-johnson-pritzker-following-college-students-killing-chicago" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>.
&#8220;Calling this ‘senseless’ is not enough. There must be a clear and honest accounting of what went wrong,&#8221; the family said. &#8220;We will not allow Sheridan’s life to be reduced to a talking point or a generalization. We expect leadership that is willing to confront hard truths and ensure that what happened to her does not happen again.&#8221;
Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker&#8217;s office released its first statement on Gorman’s killing Tuesday afternoon.
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving the senseless murder of Sheridan Gorman. Violent crime has no place in our streets, and we expect the alleged perpetrator to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” a spokesperson for Pritzker told The Daily Wire.
“The Trump Administration needs to stop politicizing heinous tragedies and instead focus on real solutions, like reinstating federal funds to prevent violence that support our public safety efforts,” the spokesperson added.
Gorman&#8217;s family also hit back at Pritzker over his statement.
&#8220;Sheridan’s death cannot be reduced to a general &#8216;tragedy,&#8217; nor can it be explained away by broad references to failures somewhere else. Sheridan was a daughter, a sister, and a young woman whose life was taken in a way that should never have been possible,&#8221; the family said, according to Fox News. &#8220;We are not interested in political arguments or in watching responsibility shift from one place to another. If there were failures — as the Governor himself has acknowledged—then every one of them must be identified, examined, and addressed directly. The location of those failures matters less than the willingness to confront them honestly.&#8221;
&#8220;Our daughter is not a policy debate. She is a life that was taken, and that demands accountability,&#8221; they added.
Medina was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder in the first degree, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Tribune. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer with local authorities, but it is not likely to force any action due to sanctuary laws.
His initial court appearance was delayed after he was hospitalized with tuberculosis. He is due in court Friday.

US-NEWS-CHICAGO-TROOPS-TRUMP-TB

Sheridan Gorman’s Family Rips Chicago Mayor, Illinois Gov Over Response To Her Killing

Brandon Johnson

Chicago

Illinois

J.B. Pritzker

How many tragic deaths, like that of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, are we willing to tolerate before enough is enough? How does this keep happening? 
 
Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was fatally shot on March 19th while walking with friends near the school&#8217;s Lake Shore campus by an illegal alien criminal from Venezuela. The group was walking to see the northern lights when a masked gunman emerged from the shadows and opened fire. 
 
The suspect, Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
Why does such a heinous tragedy happen?
The Department of Homeland Security put it bluntly: Sheridan Gorman &#8220;was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who released this illegal alien twice before he went on to commit this heinous murder.&#8221;
While most cities and states are working to undo the disastrous policies of the Biden administration that allowed tens of millions of illegal aliens into the country, certain blue cities are vehemently resisting anything the Trump administration does. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are spearheading this &#8220;resistance&#8221; — and actively making life not only worse for their constituents, but dangerous. 
 
Here are a few of the ways Chicago created the perfect storm that ultimately led to Gorman&#8217;s death.
On a municipal level, Johnson and his cadre of progressives enacted the Welcoming City Ordinance — Chicago&#8217;s primary sanctuary law, which was expanded in 2021 to remove previous &#8220;carve-outs&#8221; that had allowed police to cooperate with ICE in cases involving individuals with felony convictions or those in the gang database. Essentially, police are barred from assisting ICE during operations, ICE agents aren&#8217;t permitted in local jails, and officers are prohibited from asking about a person&#8217;s immigration status during routine interactions.
To make matters worse for citizens — and better for criminals — Mayor Johnson issued an order preventing ICE from using city-owned parking lots, garages, or any other city property for enforcement work.
On a state level, the TRUST Act prohibits state and local law enforcement from detaining any individual based on a federal immigration detainer or administrative warrant. In other words, it&#8217;s nearly impossible for ICE to do their job. 
 
Then there’s the Illinois Way Forward Act (2021), which significantly expanded the TRUST Act by prohibiting state and local government from contracting the federal government to house or detain illegal immigrants, banning local police from transferring individuals into ICE custody without a judicial warrant, and restricting the flow of information to ICE officers about individuals in local custody.
And of course, they signed the Keep Illinois Families Together Act, which restricts ICE from entering schools, health centers, libraries, courthouses, polling locations (strange, considering the leftist claim that noncitizens aren&#8217;t voting), and more.
Those are policies carved out specifically for illegal aliens. But to understand exactly how a criminal, an illegal Venezuelan national, ended up murdering a young American girl, you only need to look at Medina&#8217;s timeline. 
 
Medina entered the U.S. illegally in May of 2023 under Biden. He was apprehended and released into the interior of the country without asylum claims. Just one month later, he was arrested in Chicago for shoplifting — and released from local custody shortly after, because of the very policies listed above. 
 
In September of that same year, he failed to appear for his court date. A warrant was issued but never served. He claims he missed the hearing due to a hospital stay — which means he was receiving free healthcare as an illegal criminal. 
 
And then, not even three years later, he murdered Sheridan Gorman in cold blood. 
 
Medina was a symptom, not an anomaly. Since January 20, 2025 alone, Governor Pritzker&#8217;s sanctuary state of Illinois has released 1,768 criminal illegal aliens with active ICE detainers — including individuals charged or convicted of murder, sexual offenses, and weapons crimes. Another 4,015 criminal non-citizens remain in Illinois custody with detainers that local officials refuse to — or aren&#8217;t allowed to — honor.
If you’re wondering how in the heck this could continue to go on? It will — because these Democrat leaders are tone deaf and are willing to trade their constituents&#8217; and our fellow citizens&#8217; safety for the comfort and protection of criminal illegal aliens. Even after Sheridan’s blood was spilled, Mayor Brandon Johnson doubled down. Just days after the murder, he proudly unveiled a new city snowplow named ‘Abolish ICE’ — while the city was still mourning an 18-year-old Loyola freshman gunned down by a man his policies had shielded.
Don&#8217;t let them tell you that sanctuary city policies aren&#8217;t dangerous or destructive. Because again and again, we&#8217;re being reminded — they are.

People Protest in Chicago, IL as Part of the No Kings Rallies on October 18, 2025

Chicago’s Sanctuary Policies Allowed A Girl To Be Murdered In Cold Blood.

illegal alien

Sanctuary Cities

Joe Abraham, an Illinois father whose 20-year-old daughter Katie was killed by an illegal immigrant in a 2025 hit-and-run crash, is criticizing Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker over what he describes as a lack of acknowledgment from state leaders.
Abraham’s outcry comes after Pritzker&#8217;s office finally broke its silence regarding the recent murder of Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman — allegedly at the hands of a Venezuelan national released into the country by the Biden administration — only to use the moment to pivot to political attacks against the Trump administration.
In January 2025, Abraham&#8217;s daughter was killed in Urbana in a high-speed, drunk-driving hit-and-run. The suspect, Julio Cucul-Bol, is a Guatemalan national who had previously been deported and was living under an alias, according to law enforcement. While the Department of Homeland Security eventually launched &#8220;Operation Midway Blitz&#8221; in Katie&#8217;s honor, Pritzker has reportedly remained conspicuously silent.
In a powerful social media post, Abraham highlighted the governor&#8217;s hypocrisy, contrasting Pritzker&#8217;s public response to other tragedies with what he says has been silence in his daughter&#8217;s case.
&#8220;@GovPritzker, I saw your post honoring lives lost in Minnesota — standing publicly, naming Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and laying flowers in their memory,&#8221; Abraham wrote. &#8220;But where was that same compassion on January 19, 2025? That is the day my 20-year-old daughter, Katie Abraham, was killed here in Illinois.&#8221;
Abraham emphasized that his daughter was &#8220;simply living her life&#8221; and was not involved in any dangerous activity when she was killed.
He said he had reached out privately to the governor, seeking only &#8220;clarity&#8221; and &#8220;understanding,&#8221; but was met with total silence.
&#8220;You have never said her name. You have never come to where she died&#8230; And beyond that — you have never even responded to me,&#8221; Abraham stated.
The father’s response was triggered by Pritzker’s office finally — after three days — acknowledging the murder of Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman fatally <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/murder-suspect-in-loyola-university-slaying-is-venezuelan-illegal-released-by-biden?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=40&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Murder+Suspect+In+Loyola+University+Slaying+Is+Venezuelan+Illegal+Released+By+Biden">shot in Chicago while walking with friends</a> to see the Northern Lights. Rather than taking accountability for the sanctuary policies that allowed Gorman’s alleged killer — who had an outstanding warrant for shoplifting — to remain on the streets, Pritzker’s office blamed the Trump administration for &#8220;politicizing&#8221; the tragedy and demanded more federal funds.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Illinois Gov JB Pritzker office breaks its silence following the murder of Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman, who was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant, telling <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> : 
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving…
&mdash; Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) <a href="https://twitter.com/JennieSTaer/status/2036182974195007521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Abraham rejected the governor’s approach to immigration and public safety, arguing that Pritzker&#8217;s defense of sanctuary policies creates the very conditions for these &#8220;preventable tragedies.&#8221;
&#8220;This is not about politics. It’s about leadership and accountability,&#8221; Abraham declared. &#8220;When you choose to publicly mourn some victims while remaining silent about others — especially those lost under policies you support — it sends a message&#8230; it tells families like mine that our loss does not matter the same way.&#8221;
Abraham concluded with a direct challenge to the governor: &#8220;Say her name: Katie Abraham. Stand where she died. Show the people of Illinois that every life matters.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/GovPritzker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovPritzker</a>, I saw your post honoring lives lost in Minnesota—standing publicly, naming Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and laying flowers in their memory.
But where was that same compassion on January 19, 2025?
That is the day my 20-year-old daughter, Katie Abraham, was killed… <a href="https://t.co/15Uv1uT46M">https://t.co/15Uv1uT46M</a>
&mdash; Joe Abraham (@angeldadjoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/angeldadjoe/status/2036174426979328366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Dem Governor Blasted For Who Made His Tribute List And Who Didn’t

A Democrat candidate reiterated her call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday shortly after winning her party’s primary for a United States Senate seat in Illinois.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the Democratic nomination to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin, winning 40% of the vote and defeating Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly. In her victory speech, Stratton doubled down on the far-left priorities she emphasized during the campaign. 
“We will fight for Medicare for all. We will fight to abolish ICE. We&#8217;ll fight for a real living wage, not just the bare minimum,” Stratton said. “We&#8217;ll fight to defend our rights and claw our democracy back from the brink.”
Stratton openly campaigned on abolishing ICE, framing her bid as a direct challenge to President Donald Trump. 
“Courage inspired me to run. Courage powered this campaign and courage will bring this fight straight to Donald Trump’s door,” she said on Tuesday. 
During the primary, Stratton ran ads emphasizing her opposition to Trump, including one spot featuring supporters saying, “F*ck Trump, vote Juliana.”
“They said it, not me,” Stratton <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svuh7mIxukk">said</a> in the ad. “I’m not scared of a wannabe dictator. I’m running for Senate to stand up to Donald Trump. I’ll abolish ICE and hold Trump accountable for the crimes he committed.”  
Illinois Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker backed Stratton and contributed $5 million to a political action committee supporting her campaign. Pritzker said Tuesday that electing Stratton was “personal” for him. 
Stratton will face GOP nominee Don Tracy, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party. Tracy has said that the Democratic Party has become out of step with voters in the state by pushing “open border” policies and abolishing ICE. 
“It’s especially important, I would suggest, for the Republican side, then the Democrat side, because it’s an opportunity to make Illinois a two-party state again,” Tracy told WTAX News, noting that Democrats currently hold all eight statewide offices. 
Illinois has leaned reliably Democratic in recent elections. Former Vice President Kamala Harris won the state by about 11 points in the 2024 presidential race.

IL Senate Candidate Juliana Stratton Holds Primary Night Event

Dem Voters Nominate Radical ‘Abolish ICE’ Candidate For Key Senate Seat

Dick Durbin

Elections

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Politics

Senate

An Illinois congresswoman wants to address a hidden danger to the American public tied to the spike in abortions facilitated by the fatal drug mifepristone.
Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced a proposal on Wednesday that would make it illegal to take an abortion pill “without the physical presence of a healthcare provider” and prevent the remains of unborn children from being flushed into the public water system. The aftermath of the fatal procedure could be harming the American public, Miller said.
&#8220;The murder-for-profit abortion industry has completely ignored the dangerous and unethical disposal of pre-born baby remains and toxic chemical waste produced by abortion pills,” Miller told The Daily Wire. “I introduced the Clean Water for All Life Act to put an end to their reckless and inhumane practices.”
Miller’s legislation comes as abortions through mifepristone have become the most common means to end an unborn child’s life. Mifepristone works by starving an unborn child of the nutrients it needs to survive.
Thanks to regulations introduced by the Biden administration, mifepristone can be shipped through the mail without an in-person doctor’s visit. Pro-life advocates have blamed this regulation for the tens of thousands of abortions in states where medication abortion is technically against the law.
In addition to requiring the presence of a doctor, Miller’s legislation would mandate that a woman have a physical examination before getting an abortion pill and that the unborn baby would not be flushed down the toilet.
Doctors who violate the proposal could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fined up to $50,000.
The organization Students for Life of America, which supports the bill, estimates that some 50 tons of chemical waste and human remains are flushed into America’s water systems every year due to abortions. They say the chemicals from the pills could lead to health problems for all Americans.
According to Miller’s office, this could include immune and nervous system disturbances, infertility, increased cancer risk, moodiness, hormone imbalances in women, and decreased testosterone in men.
“The loss of human life from Chemical Abortion Pills every day sickens so many Americans, but very little thought is given to what happens after a Chemical Abortion,” Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins said. “Babies deserve better, and many of us are being exposed to abortion water pollution in our drinking water.”
Women who took the abortion pill have spoken out about the horrific experience of having well-developed babies expelled from their bodies. Last week, a woman named Elizabeth Gillete said the baby she aborted had recognizable eyes and limbs.
“That was so different from the double period and the extra clotting that they told me that I would experience,” she said. “And in that moment, I had to decide if I was going to throw my child in the trash or flush my child down the toilet, and I chose to flush him into a septic tank.”
Miller&#8217;s legislation is backed by Republican Reps Michael Cloud (Texas), Pat Harrigan (North Carolina), Sheri Biggs (South Carolina), Paul Gosar (Arizona), Diana Harshbarger (Tennessee), John McGuire (Virginia), Greg Steube (Florida), and Tim Burchett (Tennessee).
Pro-life advocates have urged the Food and Drug Administration to reimpose the in-person requirement for the abortion pill.

Ultrasound

Abortion Pill Ends Innocent Lives — The Next Step Could Impact Every American Home

Abortion

Abortion Drug

Crime

Mary Miller

Pro-Life Movement

U.S.

The family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson is walking back endorsement claims in a heated Democratic primary for a United States Senate seat in Illinois.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said that she was backed by Jackson, who died on Feb. 17, based on information she received regarding his potential decisions that had not been made public yet, according to the <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/16/jesse-jackson-family-disputes-posthumous-juliana-stratton-endorsement-us-senate-primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Sun-Times</a>.
“Out of respect for my father, we decided not to publicly release his intended selections given the process had not been finalized,” said Yusef Jackson, his son, according to the outlet on Monday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, this weekend, a draft sample ballot that was in development was released without authorization. It is important to note that the Jackson Family does not issue political endorsements, nor do Rainbow PUSH or the Rainbow PUSH Coalition,” Jackson added.
The primary includes Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, with most polls showing either Stratton or Krishnamoorthi leading.
“And I just got notice that he made final personal endorsements before he passed away, and in his personal endorsement he endorsed me for United States Senate,” Stratton told MSNOW on Saturday while at the Rainbow/PUSH office in Chicago.
“That’s the kind of fight we need, someone who’s really gonna put the people at the center, I learned that from Rev. Jackson, and now I look forward to continuing to fighting for the people of Illinois when I get to the Senate,” she added.
In an X post promoting the MSNOW hit, she added that she &#8220;will work day and night to carry on his legacy for the people of Illinois when I get to the United States Senate.&#8221;
The Stratton campaign told The Daily Wire in a statement that &#8220;Juliana spoke on Saturday at Rainbow PUSH for a Women’s History Month event and officials told her she received the endorsements.&#8221;
&#8220;Organizers shared the sample election ballot that was already being distributed and encouraged her to share the news,&#8221; the campaign added. &#8220;Juliana is spending the final hours of this campaign talking to voters and making sure every Illinoisan hears how she plans to take on Donald Trump and bring their voices to Washington.&#8221;
The primary election is on Tuesday, and the November general election is ranked as “Solid Democrat.” Whoever wins will be replacing retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). The Daily Wire reached out to the other two Democratic campaigns, but neither were immediately available for comment.
“You know, I&#8217;ve talked to a couple of his kids. They don&#8217;t know anything about it, so I don&#8217;t know. It is what it is,&#8221; Kelly told <a href="https://x.com/aaronpellish/status/2033260951730864138?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a> on Sunday when asked about the endorsement.
Kelly was reportedly contacted by Jackson’s widow to apologize for the mix-up, <a href="https://x.com/maryannahernnbc/status/2033626166448316737?s=46">according</a> to NBC 5 Chicago.
Jackson&#8217;s funeral was on March 6 in Chicago, and it featured remarks from former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris. Jackson himself ran for president unsuccessfully in 1984 and 1988, and he was the shadow senator for Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 1997.

Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson’s Family Walks Back Endorsement Claims In Key Democratic Primary

Congress

Democrats

Former President Bill Clinton walked back remarks he made under oath that appeared to suggest Illinois Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker accompanied him on one of the flights he took aboard convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane. 
Clinton mentioned Pritzker when asked who typically accompanied him on flights he took on Epstein’s plane, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgJrYKAl6T0">according</a> to a video released Monday by the House Oversight Committee. After the clip circulated on social media, Clinton’s spokesman asserted that the former president did not mean to say that Pritzker flew on Epstein’s plane. 
“President Clinton was simply giving an example of the many people he traveled with to see the Clinton Foundation’s work. Governor Pritzker joined a Clinton Foundation trip in 2008,” said Clinton spokesman Angel Urena. “Not on Epstein’s plane. Not with Epstein. Not with Maxwell.”
During his deposition, Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) asked who Clinton “normally” brought with him on those flights. Clinton said he “brought people who work with me, especially people who would have to follow up on the fundraising, or people who were involved” in his work. 
“I had the Secret Service with me. And then on occasion, I had people who had volunteered to help us and wanted to see what we’re doing,” Clinton added. “For example, I think it was on one of these trips, I think that I had my first trip for the man who’s now the governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker and his wife, they gave me, they helped me get started.”
A clip circulating on social media, shared by RNC Research, highlighted the exchange.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bill Clinton says he brought JB Pritzker on pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s plane: “I think that I had my first trip for the man who’s now the Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker and his wife.” <a href="https://t.co/p6GtSbpgGX">pic.twitter.com/p6GtSbpgGX</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/2028647022119551010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Pritzker campaign spokesman Alex Gough told The Daily Wire that the governor traveled with Clinton twice, but said the travel was not on Epstein’s plane. 
“Governor Pritzker was asked to travel with President Clinton on two trips, once in 2008 and once in 2013. Neither utilized Jeffrey Epstein’s aircraft, nor was he accompanied by that man or Ghislaine Maxwell,” he said. “We understand that the GOP is desperate to deflect from the heinous accusations against President Trump in the Epstein Files, but this is a particularly weak effort to assign blame where there is none.”
Gough did not provide a comment on whether Pritzker had ever had any other interactions with Epstein. 
The governor’s cousin, Thomas Pritzker, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terrible-judgement-epstein-fallout-forces-top-hotel-exec-to-leave-hes-jb-pritzkers-cousin">announced</a> last month that he was stepping down from his executive position at the Hyatt hotel corporation over his ties to Epstein and Maxwell. 
“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Thomas Pritzker said in a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216864815/en/Tom-Pritzker-Retires-as-Executive-Chairman-of-Hyatt-After-22-Years-of-Service-and-Will-Not-Stand-for-Reelection-to-Board-of-Directors">news release</a>. “I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims.”

Clinton Global Initiative America Meetings Begin In Chicago

Bill Clinton Walks Back Remarks Suggesting JB Pritzker Flew On Epstein’s Plane

Bill Clinton

House Oversight Committee

JB Pritzker

Jeffrey Epstein

The storied Chicago Bears NFL franchise has been playing in the Windy City since 1921, but on Thursday, the team shocked the sports world and Illinois leaders by taking a &#8220;meaningful step&#8221; toward building a new stadium across state lines in Hammond, Indiana.
After the Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed a proposed amendment to make Indiana the Bears&#8217; new home, the team said it is &#8220;committed to finishing&#8221; the process &#8220;to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana,&#8221; Chicago-based news outlet WGN 9 <a href="https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/indiana-lawmakers-to-meet-thursday-morning-to-review-proposal-for-bears-to-build-new-stadium-in-northwest-indiana/">reported</a>. The Bears thanked the Republican-led Indiana government for quickly working to open the door for the new stadium.
&#8220;We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor [Mike] Braun, Speaker [Todd] Huston, Senator [Ryan] Mishler and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe,&#8221; the Bears said. &#8220;We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.&#8221;
While a relocation to Hammond would keep the Bears in the Chicago metro area, it would mark a major loss for Illinois Democratic leaders, including Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The Bears had planned to move to Arlington Heights, a village in Illinois northwest of downtown Chicago, but the plan has stalled in the Democrat-controlled state legislature.
A spokesman for Governor Pritzker <a href="https://x.com/thematthill/status/2024502208885080324">said</a> that state lawmakers had planned to hold a hearing on moving forward with the Bears&#8217; Arlington Heights plans, but the franchise requested the meeting be called off at the last minute. The hearing, scheduled to be held by the Illinois Revenue and Finance Committee, was set to look into a proposal to provide up to $850 million in infrastructure support, according to WGN 9.
&#8220;This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois,&#8221; Pritzker&#8217;s spokesman, Matt Hill, added.
Local property taxes in Illinois also remain a major issue. Illinois Republican state Rep. Mark Batinick published a document detailing how the 7% property tax rate in Arlington Heights would require the Bears to pay around $210 million annually, the Purdue Exponent <a href="https://www.purdueexponent.org/city_state/general_news/chicago-bears-hammond-indiana/article_46293472-6987-4fe8-b4be-6a69f7280fb1.html">reported</a>.
Indiana Republican Governor Mike Braun released a statement on Thursday touting the state&#8217;s &#8220;pro-growth environment&#8221; that &#8220;continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears.&#8221;
&#8220;The State of Indiana moves at the speed of business, and we&#8217;ve demonstrated that through our quick coordination between state agencies, local government, and the legislature to set the stage for a huge win for all Hoosiers,&#8221; Braun added. &#8220;We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.&#8221;
Illinois businesses, especially businesses in Arlington Heights, could take the biggest losses if the proposal to move the Bears to Indiana goes through. Business owners and residents in Arlington Heights have largely supported bringing the NFL team to the village, as it would come with increased business and tourism opportunities.
A move to Republican-led Indiana, however, could ease the tax burdens of the franchise and its players. Indiana&#8217;s income tax currently sits at 2.95% and will be <a href="https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/blog/general/new-tax-cuts-for-hoosiers-in-2026/">lowered</a> to 2.9% beginning in 2027. The state&#8217;s <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/location/indiana/">corporate</a> income tax rate is 4.9%. Illinois&#8217; <a href="https://tax.illinois.gov/research/taxrates/income.html">income tax</a>, meanwhile, is 4.95% and its corporate tax sits at 7%.
The potential relocation to Indiana comes as the Bears have once again become a top contender in the NFC following an NFC North division title and playoff run last season with star quarterback Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears could be the second NFL team to move across state lines, as the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to build a new stadium on the Kansas side of the border after playing in Missouri for decades. Last year, Missouri Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-tale-of-two-kansas-cities-chiefs-and-royals-spark-political-battle-with-potential-stadium-moves">disagreed</a> over whether they should try to keep the Chiefs in the state, with Republican Governor Mike Kehoe arguing that the team brings business and state revenue for Missouri. Conservative Republicans in the Missouri Freedom Caucus, however, didn&#8217;t want to use taxpayer dollars for the benefit of the billionaire Chiefs owners.

Chicago Bears

‘Da Bears’ Seeing Red Over Blue State Games, Line Up The U-Hauls

Economy

Indiana

Republicans

Illinois businessman Thomas Pritzker said Monday he was stepping down from his executive position at the Hyatt hotel corporation over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. 
Emails released by the Justice Department show Pritzker corresponding with Epstein in the years after his 2008 convictions for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor. Pritzker is the cousin of Democratic Governor JB Pritzker and has been the executive chair of Hyatt for over two decades. 
“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Pritzker said in a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216864815/en/Tom-Pritzker-Retires-as-Executive-Chairman-of-Hyatt-After-22-Years-of-Service-and-Will-Not-Stand-for-Reelection-to-Board-of-Directors">news release</a>. “I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims.”
In a letter to the Hyatt board on Monday, Pritzker said he would not seek to continue as executive chair after his term ends in June 2026. 
“When I look at my care for Hyatt, my respect for good governance and the focus that [my wife] and I have on our legacy, they all lead me to conclude that what is right for Hyatt and for me is that I retire as Executive Chairman of Hyatt effective immediately and not stand for reelection at our 2026 annual shareholder’s meeting,” he wrote in the letter. 
The announcement came after emails showed him corresponding with Epstein about a variety of topics. In one email from May 2012, Pritzker boasted to Epstein about attending an apparent dinner with high-ranking Chinese officials. 
“It was beyond awesome. I should have pushed you to go,” Pritzker <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00712657.pdf">wrote</a>. “Hot sh*t in a cool place.”
Another email exchange from July 2012 included Pritzker <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00629316.pdf">telling</a> Epstein, “Still at same coordinates. Took a bath this week,” and “more good news. Expect to take a bath again next week.”
Other emails included in the Justice Department Epstein files include emails between Epstein and his associates <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02441069.pdf">scheduling calls</a> and <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02246837.pdf">appointments</a> between Pritzker and Epstein. 
Hyatt praised Pritzker in a statement following his announcement. 
“Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth, and we thank him for his service and dedication to Hyatt,” said Richard Tuttle, the chair of Hyatt’s nominating and corporate governance committee.
Over the years, Pritzker made significant <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Thomas+Pritzker">political contributions</a> to both Democratic and Republican political candidates, including former President Barack Obama, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Senator Cory Booker (D-NY), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). 
The release of the Epstein files has led to a shakeup in the business and political world. 
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/keir-starmer-in-hot-seat-after-admitting-he-knew-appointee-was-close-to-epstein">faced pressure</a> after emails shed new light on the relationship between former U.S. Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson and Epstein. Last week, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-obama-white-house-lawyer-out-at-goldman-sachs-after-cozy-uncle-jeffrey-emails-with-epstein?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=SEE+IT%3A+‘Uncle+Jeffrey%2C’+Birthday+Wishes+And+‘Xo’+Emails+Rock+Obama-Era+Insider">Kathryn Ruemmler</a>, Obama’s longest-serving White House counsel, announced that she would be leaving Goldman Sachs after emails revealed her cozy relationship with Epstein.
The Trump administration has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-cabinet-secretary-confirms-he-visited-epsteins-island-with-wife-and-children-in-2012">faced questions</a> after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told senators last week that he visited Epstein’s Little Saint James Island with his wife and children in 2012.

MixCollage-17-Feb-2026-10-17-AM-917

Epstein Fallout Forces Top Hotel Exec To Leave — He’s JB Pritzker’s Cousin

'Terrible Judgement': Top Illinois Hotel Exec Exiting Position Over Epstein Ties

Department of Justice

Epstein Files

Ghislaine Maxwell

A controversial new bill in Illinois would ban federal immigration agents hired under the Trump administration from ever working as local police in the sanctuary state.
Democratic Illinois State Senator Laura Fine, who is also running for Congress, introduced the <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus/FullText?GAID=18&amp;DocNum=2820&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegId=0&amp;SessionID=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislation</a> after the two recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving federal immigration authorities. Fine called the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti &#8220;a glass break moment,&#8221; adding, &#8220;enough is enough.&#8221;
&#8220;It is blatantly obvious that ICE officers are not going through extensive training. Hiring ICE agents for our local and state police force is not a priority, keeping our communities safe is. And my bill aims to do just that,&#8221; Fine said in a separate post.
&#8220;The message is simple: If you enabled the cruelty of the Trump administration, you don’t get to wear a badge in Illinois,&#8221; she earlier said.
The bill lays out &#8220;that a law enforcement agency may not hire &#8230; any person who was hired as a federal immigration officer by the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement between January 20, 2025 and January 20, 2029.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m headed to Springfield to urge my colleagues to support my bill banning Trump’s unqualified ICE hires from ever serving in state and local law enforcement in Illinois. Enough is enough. I’m doing this for the safety of all Illinoisans. In Congress, I will continue to fight to… <a href="https://t.co/rd5OMfFlj8">pic.twitter.com/rd5OMfFlj8</a>
— Laura Fine for Congress (@laurafineforIL9) <a href="https://twitter.com/laurafineforIL9/status/2011184130361323576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Department of Homeland Security hit back at Fine&#8217;s proposal, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin telling The Daily Wire that the Democratic lawmaker is wrongly villainizing ICE agents who are taking criminal illegal immigrants off the streets after they were released under sanctuary policies.
“Illinois sanctuary politicians are falsely casting federal law enforcement as villains while ICE officers are being targeted, threatened, and doxxed simply for doing their jobs and enforcing our nation’s laws. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is held to the highest professional standard and officers regularly receive ongoing training,&#8221; McLaughlin said.
&#8220;As our brave law enforcement arrests and removes dangerous criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and gang members from our communities, America can be proud of the professionalism our officers bring to the job day-in and day-out. Instead of working with us, Illinois sanctuary politicians RELEASE violent criminals from their jails directly back into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims,&#8221; she added.
Since January 20, Illinois authorities have released 1,768 criminal illegal immigrants who account for 5 homicides, 141 assaults, 23 burglaries, 4 robberies, 24 drug offenses, 15 weapons offenses, and 10 sexual predatory offenses, according to McLaughlin.
There are 4,015 illegal immigrants in Illinois with ICE detainer requests for a transfer to federal custody. Those targets account for 51 homicides, 1,134 assaults, 107 burglaries, 36 robberies, 275 dangerous drugs offenses, 120 weapons offenses, and 813 sexual predatory offenses.
The sanctuary state currently allows noncitizens to serve as police officers. ICE nabbed an illegal immigrant from Montenegro in October who was working as a police officer for the Hanover Police Department in Illinois.
A judge subsequently granted his immigration bond, leading the police department to bring him back on.

ICE Agents Carry Out Raid On Undocumented Immigrants In Chicago

Blue State Bill Would Ban ICE Agents Hired Under Trump From Working As Local Cops

New Illinois Bill Would Bar ICE Agents Hired Under Trump From Working As Local Cops

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

In a 7-2 decision that had resounding import for election integrity, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court ruling that Congressman Michael Bost and two other candidates lacked standing to challenge the Illinois law that allows election officials to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if they are received within 14 days thereafter.
Bost and the two other plaintiffs argued that the process of an “extended” counting period violates federal statutes (2 U.S.C. §7 and 3 U.S.C. §1), which establish a single “Election Day” as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The District Court and the Seventh Circuit dismissed the case, concluding that the petitioners lacked standing under Article III because they could not prove the rule would cause them to lose or significantly harm their campaigns.
But the Supreme Court held that a candidate for office has standing to challenge the rules governing their own election based on their unique status and interest in the process.
Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion, which invoked a standing rule for candidates, emphasizing that they are not “mere bystanders” in the electoral process. The Court argued that while voters have a general interest in election integrity, a candidate’s interest is “different in kind.” Candidates spend vast resources seeking to represent the people and have a concrete stake in ensuring the results accurately reflect the people&#8217;s will.
Roberts noted that rules undermining election integrity also undermine the winner’s political legitimacy. For an elected official, a loss of public confidence — even if they win — is a “reputational harm” which constitutes a classic Article III injury. The Court refused to require candidates to prove they would likely lose in order to gain standing. Roberts argued that forcing candidates to wait until an election is close or finished to sue would lead to “late-breaking, court-ordered rule changes” that cause voter confusion and undermine democratic stability.
The Court warned that requiring proof of a “substantial risk of loss” would turn judges into “political prognosticators,” a role outside their judicial expertise.

US-NEWS-ILL-VOTER-DATA-LAWSUIT-TB

Voter Integrity Win: Supreme Court Affirms Standing To Challenge Extended Ballot Counting

Supreme Court

Voter Integrity

The Department of Health and Human Services will freeze $10 billion in funding for multiple welfare programs in five blue states over fraud concerns. 
HHS will pause funding for programs that provide childcare and food assistance in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York as officials probe whether the benefits are being illegally funneled to non-citizens. The specific programs being halted in those states are the Child Care Development Fund, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and the Social Services Block Grant program.
“Democrat-led states and governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/us/politics/child-care-funding-cuts-trump.html">said</a> HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon. “Under the Trump administration, we are ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes.”
The states were notified of the pause in letters sent out by HHS on Monday. New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said that the impending freeze was motivated by politics. 
“Trump is threatening to freeze child care funding in New York and targeting our children for political retribution. It’s immoral and indefensible,” she wrote on X. 
The Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) is a partnership program funded by the federal government and the states that provides financial assistance to low-income families to help them care for their children while they work or attend school. 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally funded, state-administered <a href="https://www.usa.gov/welfare-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">program</a> that provides cash assistance to low-income families for food, housing, home energy, and child care. 
The Social Services Block Grant is a program that provides funds to states, which they then allocate to various welfare programs. 
The freeze was first <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/05/us-news/trump-freezes-10b-in-funding-to-five-blue-states-for-child-care-social-services-over-fraud-fears/">reported</a> by the New York Post, which noted that the pause will impact $7.35 billion in TANF funds, $2.4 billion in CCDF funds, and $869 million in Social Services Block Grant funds. 
The Trump administration has recently increased scrutiny on states like Minnesota and California over alleged widespread fraud. Last week, HHS paused all childcare payments to the state of Minnesota while it investigates allegations that millions of taxpayer dollars have been funneled to fraudulent daycares across the state throughout the past ten years. 
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-fraud-investigation-has-begun-in-newsoms-california-more-corrupt-than-minnesota">said</a> investigations into California were beginning. 
“California, under Governor Gavin Newscum, is more corrupt than Minnesota, if that’s possible??? The Fraud Investigation of California has begun,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-fraud-investigation-has-begun-in-newsoms-california-more-corrupt-than-minnesota?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Says+Fraud+Investigation+%E2%80%98Has+Begun%E2%80%99+In+Newsom%E2%80%99s+California%3A+%E2%80%98More+Corrupt+Than+Minnesota%E2%80%99">Trump Says Fraud Investigation &#8216;Has Begun&#8217; In Newsom&#8217;s California: &#8220;More Corrupt Than Minnesota&#8217;</a>

UK Hosts President Trump And First Lady Melania Trump For State Visit – Day Three

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