Gov. Pritzker Requests the Illinois Accountability Commission to Examine Key Trump Officials

CHICAGO — Ahead of the Illinois Accountability Commission’s second hearing tomorrow, Governor Pritzker is requesting that the Commission examine the impact of the conduct and decisions that key Trump Administration officials made related to Operation Midway Blitz. ​

This request follows the demotion and expected retirement of Customs and Border Patrol “Commander at Large” Gregory Bovino. While Bovino was a central figure leading federal deployments that attacked American communities, including Chicago, there are numerous Trump Administration officials coordinating these attacks. ​

Governor Pritzker believes titles should not shield Trump officials from public accountability, which is why he is requesting that the Illinois Accountability Commission review and document available information related to the statements, policy decisions, and roles of the following administration individuals that have led to the escalation of aggressive enforcement tactics during the course of Operation Midway Blitz. ​ ​

Trump Administration officials encompassed by this request include: ​ ​

“For too long, Gregory Bovino and his rogue federal agents have terrorized communities in Illinois and across the country, violated our people’s Constitutional rights, and unleashed violence at every turn,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Bovino packing his bags cannot detract from our mission accountability. Greg Bovino, Kristi Noem, and Donald Trump’s other lackeys should find lawyers because they must still be held responsible for the killings and the damage they’ve done to our country.”

“On behalf of the Illinois Accountability Commission, we will take up the Governor’s request at our next hearing for adoption. I believe this is in line with the work and the charge of the Commission to ensure we bring to light all of the actions that harmed people in Illinois,” said Judge Ruben Castillo, Illinois Accountability Commission Chair. “My three decades of legal experience has always shown that the statements and related actions of parties show motive and intent. This situation is no different.”

Since the very beginning of Trump’s federal immigration surge, Governor Pritzker has called on everyone to pull out their phones, record, and document the abuses of ICE and CBP. The People of Illinois — and now Minnesota, who saw the same pattern of violence and lies from the federal government that Chicagoland did during “Operation Midway Blitz” — continue answering that call. With video evidence, the American public can come together to disprove the federal government’s lies. ​

Governor Pritzker established the Illinois Accountability Commission to create a public record of federal law enforcement misconduct to hold Trump’s agents accountable for their hostile actions Illinois. Anyone with information about or videos of officials included in the list above that would be of interest to the Illinois Accountability Commission as they complete this review should submit an information submission interest form on the IAC website by visiting ilac.illinois.gov/interest-form.

A look back at some of “Commander at Large” Bovino’s misconduct in Illinois:

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