President Biden sparked protests from Illinois lawmakers on both sides of the corridor after firing a prosecutor who oversaw the state’s Democratic corruption investigations.
Democratic senators, Republican House legislators and the Illinois Republican Party condemned the decision to dismiss US Attorney General John Lausch.
US prosecutors are appointed by presidents, and normally new presidents ask for the resignation of almost everyone at the start of a new government, but Lausch has had rare bipartisan support. When then-President Trump appointed Lausch, the lawyer had the support of both Illinois Democratic senators – Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
Durbin and Duckworth issued a joint statement saying they were not consulted about Lausch’s resignation and urging the government not to fire him immediately.
The statement said:
“Although we agree with the criminal justice agenda of the Biden government, we are disappointed with the decision to dismiss Attorney Lausch without consulting us. In 2017, our non-partisan triage committee supported Lausch to occupy that position and the Senate confirmed it. unanimously.
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“Although we agree with the criminal justice agenda of the Biden government, we are disappointed with the decision to fire Attorney Lausch without consulting us. In 2017, our nonpartisan selection committee supported Lausch to occupy that position and the Senate confirmed it. unanimously “, they wrote.
“Although the president has the right to remove US prosecutors, there is precedent for prosecutors in the Northern Illinois District to remain in office to complete sensitive investigations. We believe that Mr. Lausch should be allowed to continue in his position until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, and we urge the Biden government to allow it to do so, “they wrote, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Four Republicans from the Illinois House, Adam Kinzinger, Rodney Davis, Darin LaHood and Mary Miller, released a statement saying it was “imprudent and irresponsible” to fire Lausch until his successor is confirmed. “There are precedents for allowing a US prosecutor to remain in office until successors are confirmed, and we strongly believe that both should be allowed to do so,” said the Republicans.
Lausch and everyone, except another Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, who has yet to step down, were asked to resign until February 28 on Tuesday in a call with acting attorney general Monty Wilkinson.
Illinois Republican Party President Don Tracy accused Biden of putting politics above justice.
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“Joe Biden is more concerned with settling accounts with Trump than defending the people of Illinois who desperately want a government that works for them – not for politicians. If Mike Madigan does not face consequences for his party’s corruption, he can now thank to Joe Biden for protection, “said Tracy.
He applauded Lausch for “dismantling the corrupt Democratic Machine one at a time,” according to the Sun-Times.
Lausch is overseeing a public corruption investigation at ComEd, after federal prosecutors said last year that the concessionaire admitted to providing jobs or contracts “to several associates of a high-level official elected by the state of Illinois”. Bribery charges were brought against ComEd and four members of the inner circle of then-Illinois Mayor Mike Madigan. Madigan, removed from the position of mayor, remains president of the Illinois Democratic Party. The ComEd case involved Madigan, but he has not yet been charged with a crime and denies any wrongdoing.
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Other elected officials indicted while Lausch served as Chicago’s top prosecutor include state senator Thomas Cullerton, former senator Terry Link, the late former senator Martin Sandoval, former state deputy Luis Arroyo, the former county commissioner of Cook Jeff Tobolski and Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta.