Dupage Policy Journal

Amid recent fraud allegations against gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker (D), U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) is challenging opponent Sean Casten to return campaign donations from Pritzker.

“Four out of Illinois’ last nine governors have gone to prison – the people of Illinois are sick and tired of corrupt politicians that have hurt and embarrassed our state,” Veronica Vera, Roskam’s campaign spokeswoman, said in a prepared statement.

According to an Oct. 1 article in The Chicago Sun-Times, Cook County’s Inspector General found that Pritzker received property tax breaks and refunds totaling at least $330,000. The concessions came after his Gold Coast home was declared uninhabitable when he had toilets and plumbing disconnected.

Democrat Sean Casten's campaign received funds from Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Prtizker.

In the release, Roskam’s campaign called on Casten “to immediately denounce such tax fraud and return thousands in ill-gotten campaign contributions he received from the Pritzkers.”

Pritzker, whose family owns the Hyatt Hotel chain, is described by Bloomberg.com as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and investor.

News has also surfaced about potential ethical issues with Casten himself. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, investors in one of Casten’s energy businesses have filed a lawsuit alleging they lost money when the deal went sour.

“Our state needs principled leaders like Peter Roskam, who puts his constituents’ interests first,” Vera said in the news release, adding, “Sean Casten should immediately disavow J.B. Pritzker’s tax fraud and return the thousands in campaign contributions he has received from the Pritzkers.”

Roskam, along with six other U.S. representatives from Illinois, has also signed a letter referring the Inspector General’s report about Pritzker’s alleged fraud to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Roskam and Casten compete for Illinois’ 6th District congressional seat. The district includes Aurora, Belleville, Berwyn, Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, Decatur, Des Plaines, Elgin, Elmhurst, Evanston, Joliet, Moline, Naperville, Park Ridge, Peoria, Quincy, Rock Island, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana, Waukegan and Wheaton.