Opponents call for McCullagh to withdraw from state race over grooming accusation

A Republican organization is calling for Tom McCullagh to withdraw from the GOP primary in the 97th Illinois House District over an allegation he had an inappropriate relationship with an underage person last year.

McCullagh, 35, is running against Michelle Smith for the Republican nomination to the state seat in the June 28 primary election. The district includes much of Plainfield, parts of Shorewood and Joliet’s west side.

The organization calling for McCullagh to drop out of the race pointed to a Channahon police report from last November describing an accusation that McCullagh had been in contact with an underage person, though police said no charges were ever filed.

Jayme Siemer, the executive director of the House Republican Majority, said her organization is supporting Smith’s candidacy and has shared the report with news outlets.

“In light of this extremely disturbing information, Tom McCullagh should immediately withdraw as a candidate for elected office and seek help,” Siemer said in a statement. “Children should always be protected by adults, and our prayers are with the victim of this horrific situation.”

Channahon Deputy Police Chief Adam Bogart said no charges were filed in the case because the family of the alleged victim declined to prosecute.

McCullagh directed questions to Eric Blatti, an attorney based in Joliet whom McCullagh described as a “family friend.”

While Blatti said he couldn’t comment on the specifics of the police report since he had not seen it, he described the surfacing of the accusation as a “smear campaign.”

“It’s a shame that Republicans are doing this to each other,” Blatti said.

Blatti said he found out about the accusation Monday but did not know when McCullagh learned of it. To his knowledge, he said, the police never contacted McCullagh about the accusation. Bogart said the alleged victim’s family declined to proceed with the investigation before police reached out to McCullagh.

Police did conduct an interview on November 12 with someone whose identify was redacted. The interview was the basis of the information detailed in the report.

The partially redacted report described concerns relayed by someone to police that the alleged victim was “having an inappropriate relationship with an adult male” whom the report identifies as Thomas McCullagh. Bogart declined to say how the person who was interviewed knew the alleged victim.

The report said McCullagh had been communicating with the underage person over social media for several months.

Identifying information about the underage person was redacted and Bogart declined to answer questions about their age or gender.

The underaged person met McCullagh in August of last year at Channahon Three River’s Festival where he was working as a volunteer, according to the report.

McCullagh approached the underage person, gave them money to purchase wristbands for access to carnival rides and continued to “hang out” with them while he was transporting attendees on a golf cart, the report said.

The report also said the individual speaking to police learned the alleged victim had a bottle of Smirnoff Marshmallow Vodka they received from McCullagh Nov. 9.

The report said the person interviewed by police relayed the concerns because they learned McCullagh was running for a state Senate seat. McCullagh initially declared he was running for the Illinois Senate in District 49 but announced in November he would instead run in the 97th House District race.

Police learned through an online search that McCullagh sits on the board of the Forgotten Warrior Memorial, is the executive director of K9s for Veterans, and the executive director of the Forgotten Sons Homeless Veterans Charity.

McCullagh has often pointed to his activism in support of veterans during his campaigns for office. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the 49th state Senate District and the Joliet Junior College Board.

Blatti dismissed the surfacing of the accusation as a political move to get McCullagh to drop out of the race.

“It’s election season so everybody is grabbing at straws,” he said.

Blatti also said McCullagh is “morally and ethically sound,” and that as long as he’s known him, “he’s never acted inappropriately with anybody.”

In an interview, Siemer said Blatti’s rebuff to the accusation was the first denial she has heard from McCullagh’s camp. She still called for him to end his campaign.

“This is very serious and Mr. McCullagh should address the situation,” she said. “He has not properly addressed it at this point and should withdraw from the race.”