Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and members of his family are reportedly under federal criminal investigation as part of a scheme to earn a tax break on a mansion by removing all of the dwelling’s toilets, thus rendering it uninhabitable:
Illinois Gov. Pritzker under investigation for ~checks notes~ uninstalling all the toilets from his mansion-annex for a tax break https://t.co/btTksGoMV6 pic.twitter.com/0MiU51Fc5h
— Henry Grabar (@henrygrabar) April 24, 2019
Political ads, FTW!
Remember all those commercials about how JB Pritzker removed the toilets from a mansion to pay lower taxes … so do the feds. (Via @davemckinney and @tonyjarnold) https://t.co/zzJtrq2nzb
— Michael Lansu (@mikelansu) April 24, 2019
According to the report, the investigation has been active since October:
What we know about the federal probe of the Pritzker property tax appeal: It’s been active since October and known to be examining the roles of the governor, his wife and her brother. No charges imminent. Gov’s lawyer says they’ve had no contact w/feds. https://t.co/4mAAWyYn5K
— Dave McKinney (@davemckinney) April 24, 2019
The Illinois Dem has only been in office for a little over 100 days:
??? BREAKING: 101 days into office, @JBPritzker is under FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION for his toilet removal "scheme to defraud" taxpayers, which lowered the property tax bill on Pritzker's Chicago mansion by $331,000. #twill pic.twitter.com/Z2LswhIguC
— IL Republican Party (@ILGOP) April 24, 2019
An attorney for the governor said, “Neither the Governor nor the First Lady have been contacted by law enforcement regarding the property tax appeal. We are confident that any further review of the matter will show that the appropriate rules were followed.”
IL Gov JB Pritzker’s attorney: “Neither the Governor nor the First Lady have been contacted by law enforcement regarding the property tax appeal. We are confident that any further review of the matter will show that the appropriate rules were followed.”https://t.co/Thgcdw0ITW
— Tony Arnold (@tonyjarnold) April 24, 2019
We’ll note that the lawyers involved are heavy-hitters, so everyone is taking this seriously:
Also, the Pritzkers are represented by DC-based Democratic super-lawyer Marc Elias, who told WBEZ no rules have been broken by his clients. First Lady MK Pritzker’s personal assistant is being represented by former fed Reid Schar, who helped convict Blago. https://t.co/4mAAWyYn5K
— Dave McKinney (@davemckinney) April 24, 2019
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