November 23, 2024
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Illinois members of Congress urge Biden not to terminate U.S. Attorney from Joliet

Republicans cited Lausch’s work on ‘major’ corruption investigation

By Alex Ortiz

John R. Lausch Jr., the new U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, poses for a portrait after meeting with reporters for the first time Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, in Chicago. Lausch says President Donald Trump never tried to speak to him before the president nominated him for the position and told reporters on Wednesday, that he has still not spoken to the president and has not been given any instructions by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to change the priorities of the office. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Charles Rex)

Illinois members of Congress are urging President Joe Biden to reconsider his plans to fire U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr., a Joliet native.

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth said in a statement they were “disappointed” that Biden decided to terminate Lausch without consulting them.

“While we agree with the Biden Administration’s criminal justice agenda, we are disappointed with the decision to terminate U.S. Attorney Lausch without consulting us,” they said in a statement.

In August of 2017, the senators set up a non-partisan screening committee to help evaluate candidates for the vacancy in the Northern District of Illinois. The committee picked Lausch and the Senate unanimously confirmed him by a voice vote.

Durbin and Duckworth also acknowledged the president’s right to remove U.S. Attorneys. Still, they argued there was precedent for U.S. Attorneys to remain in office to conclude “sensitive investigations.”

Republican members of Congress from Illinois, including Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, said in a statement it would be “reckless and irresponsible” for Biden to fire Lausch.

The congressmen cited Lausch’s work on a “major public corruption investigation” involving the years-long bribery scheme which has implicated Michael Madigan, the former speaker of the Illinois House. Madigan has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing.

Don Tracy, the newly-minted chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, lauded Lausch in a statement for “finally clearing out criminals in elected office.”

“Joe Biden cares more about settling scores with Trump than he does standing up for the people of Illinois who desperately want a government that works for them - not for politicians,” Tracy said in the statement. “If Mike Madigan faces no consequences for his party’s corruption, he can now thank Joe Biden for protection.”

Lausch played on the 1987 championship football team at Joliet Catholic High School before going off to Harvard University and law school at Northwestern University.


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