Somonauk library to reschedule former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn’s appearance

SOMONAUK – A Jan. 26 book reading by former President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn at the Somonauk Public Library will be rescheduled, officials said.

About 75 people showed up at Tuesday’s board meeting to voice their displeasure with the library’s previous decision to cancel the event featuring Flynn, who was Trump’s first national security adviser.

Trump pardoned the retired general in November 2020 after Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Details of the Flynn event were uncertain leading up to Tuesday’s library board meeting.

Earlier this month, a social media post was published to promote the event, but it was immediately taken down. Shaw Local News Network inquired about the event Jan. 9 but only was told that it wasn’t happening.

“We are not hosting this,” library Director Julie Harte told Shaw Local News Network in an email. “Please do not publish that we are having this event.”

However, before anyone from the public commented Tuesday, library officials said they decided to reschedule the event.

Flynn had been scheduled to read from his children’s book, “The Night the Snow Monster Attacked,” but the event was canceled hastily after library officials received some complaints, board President Roberta Mickelson said.

Before Tuesday’s meeting adjourned, Mickelson told those in the attendance that the library would host Flynn on Jan. 26, which gained applause.

Flynn could not be reached for comment.

Library officials said Flynn will be in the area and has at least one other speaking event scheduled at a church in Yorkville.

The initial cancellation brought dozens of residents to the library board meeting Tuesday who asked why the event was called off, saying it infringed on their right to the public space.

Kiara Tyrrell, a library staff member, spoke Tuesday, noting that Harte was OK with setting up the event after hearing Flynn would be in the area for other speaking events.

The library has “The Night the Snow Monster Attacked” available to check out, along with others from the publisher Brave Books, which focuses on faith-based stories. Tyrrell said the event was called off for fear of protests at a children’s event.

Tyrrell said Harte and library staff pride themselves on being inclusive and having books with all different viewpoints available for checkout.

Commenters on Tuesday – including Maddie McElroy, district director for state Rep. Jed Davis, R-Newark; La Salle County Board member Beth Findley-Smith, R-Somonauk; and La Salle County Republican Committee Chairman Larry Smith – said the board initially allowed politics to influence its decision to cancel the event, and it was not done democratically.

Matt Weismiller of Sandwich said he filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the library because he wanted to know how the board and its director were influenced in their decision-making.

Joe McElroy said the library board trespassed on people’s right to assemble.

Several commenters said they were pleased that the board changed its mind in hosting the event, but they expressed concerns about whether Flynn would be able to reschedule on short notice.

As part of the meeting, Harte read January’s schedule and included Flynn’s book-reading event.

In an email Wednesday, Harte said library staff is concerned that a rescheduled event could exceed the library’s meeting room capacity of 90 people, so the reading could be at a different location.

And as far as Mickelson is concerned, she said the board will do all it can to host the event.

“We’ll make it happen,” she said.

Daily Chronicle editor Kelsey Rettke contributed to this report.