President Biden caused outrage from Illinois lawmakers on both sides of the aisle after firing a prosecutor overseeing corruption investigations of Democrats in the state.
Democratic senators, House GOP lawmakers, and the Illinois Republican Party all condemned the attempt to fire Chicago-based American attorney John Lausch.
American lawyers are appointed by presidents and typically new presidents ask for the resignation of almost everyone at the start of a new administration, but Lausch had rare bipartisan support. When then-President Trump appointed Lausch, the attorney had the support of both Democratic senators from Illinois: Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
Durbin and Duckworth released a joint statement saying they had not been consulted in Lausch’s resignation and urged the government not to terminate him immediately.
The statement read:
While we agree with the criminal justice agenda of the Biden administration, we are disappointed with the decision to terminate US attorney Lausch without consulting us. In 2017, our independent screening committee supported Mr. Lausch to serve in this position, and the Senate unanimously confirmed him.
BIDEN DOJ ASKES THAT LAWYERS APPOINTED BY TRUMP TO DEMAND
While we agree with the criminal justice agenda of the Biden administration, we are disappointed with the decision to terminate US attorney Lausch without consulting us. In 2017, our independent screening committee supported Mr. Lausch to serve in this position, and the Senate unanimously confirmed him, “they wrote.
While the president has the right to remove US attorneys, there is precedent for US attorneys in the Northern District of Illinois to remain in office to complete sensitive investigations. We believe Mr. Lausch should be cleared to remain in office until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, and we urge Biden’s government to allow him to do so, ”they wrote according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Four Illinois House Republicans, Adam Kinzinger, Rodney Davis, Darin LaHood and Mary Miller, released a statement saying it was “reckless and irresponsible” to fire Lausch until his successor is confirmed. “There is precedent for allowing a US attorney to remain in office until successors are confirmed, and we strongly believe that both should be cleared,” said Republicans.
Lausch and everyone but one other Trump-appointed U.S. attorney who has not yet left their office, were asked to step down on Tuesday, Feb. 28, in an appeal with Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson.
The new Illinois Republican Party chairman, Don Tracy, accused Biden of putting politics above justice.
BIDEN DOJ WISHES DC’S ACTIVE US LAWYER TO REMAIN IN A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ROLE TO PROCEED THE CAPITOL RIOT PROBE
Joe Biden cares more about dealing with Trump than standing up for the people of Illinois who desperately want a government that works for them – not politicians. If Mike Madigan doesn’t affect the corruption of his party, he can Joe now. Biden for protection, “Tracy said.
He applauded Lausch for “dismantling the corrupt Democratic Machine one boyfriend at a time,” according to the Sun-Times.
Lausch is overseeing a public corruption investigation into ComEd after federal prosecutors said last year that the utility had admitted to offering jobs or contracts “for several employees of a high-ranking elected official for the state of Illinois.” Allegations of bribery were filed against ComEd and four inner circle members of then-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. Madigan, who has been impeached as a speaker, remains chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. The ComEd case involved Madigan, but he has not yet been charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing.
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Other elected officials indicted while Lausch served as Chicago’s top prosecutor include Senator Thomas Cullerton, former Senator Terry Link, the late former Senator Martin Sandoval, former State Representative Luis Arroyo, former Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, and Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta.