[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> NEWLY RELEASED POLICE DATA SHOWS A DOWNWARD TREND IN SHOOTING AND HOMICIDES DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

128 HOMICIDES HAVE BEEN RECORDED THROUGH THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR REPRESENTING A 7% DECLINE OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS IS 508 IS DOWN 13%.

STILL, THOSE NUMBERS OUTPACE 2019 AND 2020.

>> FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ANNOUNCED CHARGES IN A MAJOR ALLEGED GUN TRAFFICKING RING THAT INVOLVED THREE U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS SUPPLYING 100 GUNS TO CHICAGO GANG MEMBERS.

THE GUNS LED TO TWO KILLINGS.

THE ALLEGED ARMY TRAFFIC EARNINGS ARE... AND THEY WERE STATIONED IN FORT CAMPBELL, TENNESSEE ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT.

A CONVICTION WOULD CARRY A 20-YEAR SENTENCE.

>> MIGHT BE A LONGTIME BEFORE FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN FACES TRIAL.

THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" AND "SUN-TIMES" REPORT THAT MADIGAN LAWYERS CLAIM TO HAVE QUOTE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOCUMENTS TO GO THROUGH BEFORE THE PARTIES CAN ENGAGE IN ANY PRETRIAL MOTIONS.

MADIGAN AND LONG TIME ASSOCIATE MIKE McCLAIN FACE 22 FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES AND THE NEXT HEAR SOMETHING AUGUST 2.

NOW TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL JOINING US ARE FRANK MAIN OF "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES", MARIAH WOEFEL OF WBEZ, HANNAH MEISEL OF NPR ILLINOIS AND OUR OWN AMANDA VINICKY.

LET'S GET INTO IT.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT NAMED THE CITY'S NEXT TOP WATCH SHE IS DEBORAH WITZBURG FORMER DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND REPLACES JOSEPH FERGUSON WHO STEPPED DOWN HALF A YEAR AGO.

LIGHTFOOT SAYS THAT WITS BURLING IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB.

>> THE WORK NEEDS TO SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

I THINK SHE HAS A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS HOW TO APPROVE EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE IG'S OFFICE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE TWEAKS TO THE IG ORDINANCE TO MAKE IT STRONGER AND BETTER.

BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT GIVEN THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE SHE HAS HAD SHE IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS.

SHE HAS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS BECAUSE SHE IS A TOUGH COOKIE.

>> FRANK MAIN TELL US ABOUT DEBORAH WITZBURG AND WHY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CHOSE HER?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHY BECAUSE SHE IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SHE IS A FORMER COOK COUNTY PROSECUTOR.

SHE HANDLED THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT OF THE IG'S OFFICE FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW AND WAS GOOD AT THAT.

IN FACT, MODERNIZED THE WEBSITE.

IF YOU GO ON TO THE WEBSITE YOU CAN GET DATA ABOUT THE CHICAGO POLICE, WHERE CRIME STANDS ALL THAT KIND OF THING.

AND SHE SHEPHERDED THROUGH SOME BIG STUDIES WHILE SHE WAS THERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY WILL REMEMBER IS THE STUDY ABOUT THE SHOTSPOTTER CAMERAS AND THEY LOOK AT THESE GUNSHOT DETECTION DEVICES AND SAID WELL IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FOR THE $30 MILLION WE'RE SPENDING ON THIS WE ARE GETTING THE BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

SORRY ABOUT THE PUN.

I THINK SHE IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH IG FOLLOWING IN THE STEPS OF FERGUSON.

AND YOU THINK THAT A MAYOR MIGHT NOT WANT TO GET A TOUGH IG AT THIS POINT.

>> SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FERGUSON AND SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS DID.

GO AHEAD.

>> AFTER WAITING SO LONG IN DELAYING MAKING THIS DECISION AND CAMPAIGNING ON TRANSPARENCY, I THINK LIGHTFOOT HAD TO BRING IN SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BE PERCEIVED AS A QUOTE-UNQUOTE TOUGH COOKIE.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE SHE WOULD HAVE COME UNDER SCRUTINY SAYING WAIT YOU ARE BRINGING IN AN ALLY, SOMEONE WHO WILL BE EASY ON YOU.

ESPECIALLY BY DELAYING SHE WOULD HAVE HAD THAT OBLIGATION BUT DRAWING THIS OUT SHE WAS UNDER MORE PRESSURE AND UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT TO NAME SOMEBODY THAT HAD THE CREDENTIALS.

>> AND WITZBURG WAS THE NUMBER TWO UNDER JOSEPH FERGUSON SHE HAD A ROLE IN OVERSEEING THE CONSENT DECREE PROCESS.

MARIAH WOEFEL WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT IS A DRAWN OUT PROCESS THAT ALSO PLAYED OUT PUBLICLY WITH THE CLASH BETWEEN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND FORMER INSPECTOR GENERAL JOSEPH FERGUSON.

AS AMANDA WAS SAYING IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED A LITTLE BIT WONKY FOR HER TO CHOOSE A PICK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FAVORABLE AFTER SHE SAID THE NEXT INSPECTOR GENERAL WHAT I HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL STAY IN THEIR LANE ELUDING TO THE RELATIONSHIP THAT SHE HAD WITH FERGUSON.

SHE HAD A FIVE-MEMBER COMMITTEE CHOOSE WITZBURG AND IT TOOK FIVE-AND-A-HALF MONTHS TO DO IT.

>> AND FRANK MAIN, THE MAYOR IN THAT CLIP SAID SHE WANTS TO TWEAK THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ORDINANCE.

THOSE OF US THAT COVERED CITY HALL KNOW HOW MANY YEARS IT TOOK THAT OFFICE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT POWER ESPECIALLY OVER CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT DOES SHE MEAN BY TWEAKS?

>> THAT IS THE KEY THING I SAW TALKING ABOUT THIS AND I HAVE NO IDEA.

NORMALLY IT MEANS THEY WANT TO GUT THE ORDINANCE.

I HAVE NO IDEA IF THAT IS WHAT SHE MEANS.

TWEAKING CAN THEY REMOVE SOME OF THE POWER THAT SHE HAS TO INVESTIGATE THE CITY?

OR ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT MORE BENIGN CHANGES I DON'T KNOW.

>> OR BETTER ONES WITH MORE INFORMATION BEING ABLE TO BE MADE PUBLIC.

HOW GREAT WOULD THAT BE?

>> TWEAKS LIKE MAYBE THE ORDINANCE PREVIOUSLY BUT WHAT REPORTS GET RELEASED AND MORE SPECIFICS ON THAT.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND VIEWERS A LOT OF TIMES REPORTS ARE ONLY RELEASED WHEN THE AGENCIES SUBJECT TO THE INVESTIGATIONS AGREE TO RELEASE THEM.

PERHAPS THAT WILL CHANGE.

HANNAH MEISEL LIGHTFOOT HAD HER BATTLES WITH JOSEPH FERGUSON FERG.

DO YOU THINK SHE WILL HAVE BATTLES WITH WITZBURG?

>> SHE DID ONE OF HER PARTING WORDS SHE HOPES THAT A FUTURE INSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD QUOTE-UNQUOTE LEARN TO STAY IN THEIR LANE.

YOU WOULD NATURALLY WANT TO HAVE TENSION BETWEEN A CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL OR ANY GOVERNMENTAL INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE TOP EXECUTIVES.

YOU WANT TO HAVE -- YOU DON'T WANT THAT RELATIONSHIP TO BE COZY THAT PERSON IS SUPPOSED TO BE INVESTIGATING WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT, YEAH, AFTER FIVE MONTHS OF WAITING, AND FIVE MONTHS AFTER ANNOUNCING THAT JOSEPH FERGUSON WAS GOING TO BE GOING IT IS JUST AN INTERESTING MOVE TO PICK SOMEONE THAT WAS UNDER HIM.

MAYBE THAT WAS THE CONCLUSION THAT THE TEAM CAME TO.

THAT THIS WOULD BE THE BEST PICK THAT TO NOT DRAW MORE SUSPENSION OF -- I'M NOT SURE THEY LOVED THE STAY IN THE LANE COMMENT.

>> SPEAKING OF STAYING IN THE LANE, FOLKS HAVE HAD TROUBLE DRIVING IN GENERAL BECAUSE OF THE COST OF GAS.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT UNVEILED A PLAN TO HELP EASE THE PAIN THAT CHICAGOANS ARE FEELING.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> WE'RE LITERALLY GOING TO PULL FROM A LOTTERY AND WE'LL START ROLLING THIS OUT.

THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THINK THAT THESE ESCALATED GAS PRICES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE RELIEF THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY IT MAKE IT AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE.

I HAVE TO GET UP AT 4:00 A.M. AND SIT IN THE LONG LINE.

>> REFERENCING THE WILLIE WILLSON GIVEAWAYS.

THE MAYOR'S PLAN IS 50,000 PREPAID $150 GAS CARDS.

MARIAH WOEFEL WHO IS GOING TO GET THEM?

>> THAT IS PART OF THE CRITICISM YOU HAVE TO BE BELOW 140% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME IN CHICAGO TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GAS CARD.

YOU HAVE TO BE A CHICAGO RESIDENT 18 AND UP BUT THAT PERCENTILE IF YOU ARE MAKING 90,000 AS A SINGLE PERSON IN CHICAGO WHICH TO ME IS A LOT OF MONEY YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

AND IT IS NOT -- THERE ARE LIMITED NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GET THESE GAS CARDS.

50,000 FOR THE GAS CARDS.

100,000 FOR THE CARDS IF YOU MAKE UNDER 90,000 AND A CHICAGO RESIDENT YOU HAVE A VALID CITY STICKER WITH AN ADDRESS, THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR I THINK IT'S $130,000.

THERE'S QUESTIONS THERE I THINK ABOUT WHETHER THOSE ARE GOING TO THE MOST NEEDY CHICAGOANS WHO ARE REALLY NEEDING GAS TO GET TO WORK AND CANNOT PAY FOR THAT.

LIGHTFOOT'S RESPONSE WAS THAT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, $6 AT THE PUMP IS HITTING YOU.

IN A REAL WAY RIGHT NOW.

BUT THAT IS A POINT OF CRITICISM WITH THIS PROGRAM.

>> AND AGAIN IT FOLLOWS THAT GIVEAWAY A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE LAST ROUND FROM WILLIE WILLSON AND NOW HE SENDS OUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT SAYING HE SET A DATE TO ANNOUNCE WHETHER HE IS GOING TO RUN FOR MAYOR.

FRANK MAIN, IF YOU HAD TO GUESS IS THAT YES?

>> I WOULD BE SHOCKED, SHOCKED.

I HAD TO LAUGH A LITTLE BIT WHEN BOTH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND WILLIE SAID NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS AND HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.

AND THE MAYOR DIDN'T WANT TO BE OUTSHINED BY WILLIE AS HE'S EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE MONDAY HE IS GOING TO RUN FOR MAYOR.

I THINK THAT'S THE REAL THING HERE.

AND TO THE POINT OF THIS BEING 140% OF 90,000 PEOPLE WITH 90,000 IN INCOME BEING ABLE TO GET THE CARDS.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYBODY BY ANNOUNCING THIS.

THAT WAS THE REAL THING.

OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO PEOPLE WHO NEEDED IT THE MOST.

>> DOES WILLIE WILLSON PRESENT A THREAT TO LORI LIGHTFOOT HE DOES HAVE A BASE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND THE FOP HAS ENDORSED HIM IN THE PAST.

THERE IS A COZY RELATIONSHIP THERE.

COULD THAT BE A CONSTITUENCY THAT MAKES NOISE.

>> YES, I THINK WHEN WE'VE SEEN WILLIE WILLSON ENTER THE RACE IN THE PAST.

HE HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY POPULAR.

AND I ALSO THINK WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE GAS GIVEAWAYS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE -- THEY WANT THEIR PAIN ACKNOWLEDGED IN ANY CONTEXT, THE PAIN AT THE PUMP, THE VERY REAL COST OF INFLATION ESPECIALLY TO WORKING FAMILIES THE POOREST AMONG US, IT'S VERY REAL.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IN HER THREE YEARS IN OFFICE SHE HAS MANAGED TO UPSET A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND I THINK, YEAH, I MEAN WILLIE WILLSON DOES HAVE HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE ESPECIALLY BLACK COMMUNITIES BETTER THAN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT MIGHT.

AND THAT REPRESENTS ONE OF THE RELATIONSHIP REPAIR SEE MIGHT WANT TO FOCUS ON IN THE NEXT YEAR.

>> AND MAYBE THE GAS GIVEAWAY IS PART OF THAT.

AND SPEAKING OF TAX RELIEF, AMANDA VINICKY IS THERE ANY GAS TAX RELIEF MOVING FORWARD IN SPRINGFIELD?

>> YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

OF COURSE THIS ALSO HAS NOTHING, NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.

>> OF COURSE NOT.

>> OF COURSE, NOTHING TO DO WITH AN ELECTION AND WE SEE NOW FROM THE LATEST PROPOSAL FROM SENATE DEMOCRATS WOULD CALL FOR A HOLIDAY ON PAYING SALES TAXES FOR BACK TO SCHOOL ITEMS.

ILLINOIS HAS DONE THAT BEFORE IN 2010 IN THE MIDST OF A COMPETITIVE ELECTION CYCLE FOR DEMOCRATS.

THERE'S ALSO A WHOLE SPREAD OF TAX RELIEF THAT COULD BE PART OF A BUDGET THAT IS ULTIMATELY WORKED OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK INCLUDING, YES, PARIS, A RELIEF AT THE PUMP THAT SOME SAY NOT DO MUCH FOR FAMILIES ADD UP TO SOMETHING LIKE $10 TO $15 A MONTH BECAUSE IT WOULD BE PENNIES.

BUT ADD UP TO 135 MILLION FOR THE BUDGET THAT WOULD GO TOWARD PAYING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

UNCLEAR AS TO WHETHER THAT WILL BE PART OF THE FINAL DEAL BECAUSE THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION DEMOCRATS ARE GETTING PUSHED BACK.

AND THEN AGAIN WHERE IS LABOR GOING TO GO?

THEY ARE TIED WITH DEMOCRATS.

SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE DEMOCRATS ARE FACTORING INTO THIS THEY ARE LOOKING TO APPEAL TO VOTERS.

>> KNOW THAT LABOR AND DEMOCRATS ARE VERY CLOSELY TIED.

MORE CITY NEWS, MARIAH WOEFEL MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HINTING SHE WANTS THE GRANT PARK COLUMBUS STATUE PUT BACK UP BY THE SUMMER.

IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I THINK SHE'LL DEFINITELY GET PUSHBACK AND THERE'S PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS THIS WAS THE SITE OF CLASHES BETWEEN PROTESTORS AND DEMONSTRATORS.

POLICE AND DEMONSTRATORS IN THE SUMMER OF 2020.

SO I THINK SHE WILL GET CRITICISM FROM ALL SIDES REGARDLESS WHAT SHE DOES.

SHE IS BEING SUED OVER THE REMOVAL OF THE STATUE BY AN ITALIAN/AMERICAN GROUP IN THE CITY.

I THINK REGARDLESS SHE WILL GET CRITICISM.

I THINK BASED ON HER COMMENTS SHE HAS NOT SAID -- SHE HAS REAFFIRMED HER COMMITMENT TO PUTTING THE STATUES BACK MULTIPLE TIMES.

WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE QUESTION.

I THINK REGARDLESS OF WHAT SHE DOES IT WILL BE NOT WITHOUT PUSHBACK.

>> IT'S BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE PAST.

SCUFFLES AND THE POLICE HAVE GOTTEN HURT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO A STORY THAT WTTW HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING OVER THE LAST WEEK.

G.O.P.

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE RICHARD IRVIN ACCEPTING CAMPAIGN DONATIONS FROM BUSINESSES DOING BUSINESS WITH AURORA.

EYE EYE AND A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER THAT COMPANY DONATED $135,000 TO FUNDS CONNECTED TO IRVIN AND HIS FORMER PRIVATE PRACTICE LAW PARTNER BRITTANY PEDERSEN RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT FOR KANE COUNTY JOB.

AND JH REAL ESTATE AND WINDFALL THEY GAVE 99,000 TO FUNDS CONNECTED TO IRVIN AND PEDERSEN AND THEY STAND TO RECEIVE NORTH OF $30 MILLION IN INCENTIVES FOR PROJECTS.

FORMER AURORA ALDERMAN WHO RAN AGAINST IRVIN FOR MAYOR SAID HE BELIEVES THE DEALINGS DON'T PASS ETHICAL MUSTER.

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR AURORA.

IT'S JUST WHETHER IT'S LEGAL OR NOT, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

I THINK IT'S WRONG.

>> HANNAH MEISEL THE STATE'S WEALTHIEST RESIDENT KEN GRIFFIN BACKED IRVIN TO THE TUNE OF $20 MILLION AND PROMISED THAT IRVIN WILL CLEAN UP WASTEFUL SPENDING AND CORRUPTION.

DOES THIS PUT A DAMPER IN THAT MESSAGE?

>> 20 MILLION SO FAR CONSIDER A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE MILLIONS THAT GRIFFIN IS EXPECTED TO SPEND ON THIS RACE AND THE REST OF THE SLATE OF CANDIDATES.

YEAH, I MEAN WHEN YOU HAVE RICHARD IRVIN AND FRANKLY A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS POINTING TO DEMOCRATS AND THE LEGACY OF DEMOCRATS IN SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC CORRUPTION TITLES AND THIS ENTIRE FEDERAL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION THAT IS STILL ONGOING THAT HAS NABBED A LOT OF TOP DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE, IT IS HARD.

THERE'S GOING TO BE FINGER POINTING IF IRVIN DOES THIS, I MEAN, TO SOLICIT CAMPAIGN DONATIONS AND THEN TO TURN AROUND AND HAVE CONTRACTS GO TO THOSE WHO DONATED THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT BLAGOJEVICH DOWN.

AND THIS IS ALSO BUILD UPON WORK FROM 2018 THAT IS THE AURORA BEACON NEWS REPORTED ON.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT DEMOCRATS DO WITH THIS NEWS.

IT REMINDS ME OF WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE DOING WITH RICHARD IRVIN NOW, TOO, REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE CRIME A HUGE ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

AND THIS WEEK THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION WHICH BY THE WAY, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAS BEEN A MAJOR FUNDER OF IN THE RECENT PAST THEY PUT OUT AN AD SAYING THAT RICHARD IRVIN IN HIS CAREER AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY AFTER HE WAS A PROSECUTOR HELPED THE MOST HEINOUS OF CRIMINALS GET BACK ON THE STREETS.

THAT IS AN ISSUE IT SERVES TO KIND OF MAKE THE CRIME ISSUE EVEN BIGGER THAN IT WAS.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

I WONDER WHAT DEMOCRATS WILL DO WITH THIS NEW PIECE OF INFORMATION.

>> AND INTERESTING THAT DEMOCRATS CHOOSE TO GET INVOLVED IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY LIKE THIS BY PUTTING OUT ADS.

AND GOING BACK TO THE IRVIN CAMPAIGN TOLD US THAT AURORA HAS SEEN A LOT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNDER IRVIN AND MORE THAN IN RECENT TIME.

BUT FRANK MAIN GOING THROUGH THIS, AND WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS WE'RE SEEING UPWARDS OF 30 MILLION IN INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD HOUSES, TO BUILD PROJECTS.

IS IT REALLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN IT TAKES SO MUCH TAXPAYER MONEY TO DO IT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS A TERRIFIC STORY.

I WANT TO SAY THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THE THING THAT CAUGHT -- TO YOUR POINT IS THAT THE SAME DEVELOPER WHO IS EMBROILED IN THE MADIGAN INDICTMENT IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH IRVIN AND THE CITY OF AURORA.

>> THIS IS EDDIE NI.

>> BREAKDOWN HOW HE IS INVOLVED IN THE MADIGAN INDICTMENT.

>> IN THE MADIGAN CASE THERE WAS A PIECE OF PROPERTY IN CHINATOWN THAT HE WANTED TO DEVELOP AND HE NEEDED STATE APPROVAL TO DO THAT.

SO HE WENT TO MADIGAN AND ASKED FOR THAT ALLEGEDLY.

AND THE QUID PRO QUO IS THAT MADIGAN ALLEGED WOULD DO LEGAL WORK FOR HIM THEN MADIGAN WOULD SHEPHERD THROUGH A LAW THAT WOULD KIND OF TRANSFER THE STATE PROPERTY TO PRIVATE USE.

SO AND THEN IN AURORA YOU HAVE A CAMPAIGN DONATION SITUATION WHERE YOU KNOW, DONATES CAMPAIGN MONEY AND IN TURN THERE IS ALL OF THIS OTHER BUSINESS THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT AND INCENTIVES.

IT DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT LIKE THE PERSON YOU QUOTED BEFORE WAS SAYING.

>> AND I HAVE TO SAY EDDIE'S NI QUOTE IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE INCENTIVES NO ONE WOULD DO BUSINESS HERE.

AMANDA THERE HAS BEEN REPORTING ABOUT IRVIN'S INCONSISTENCIES THEYING HE SUPPORTED THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT BUT IN THE CAMPAIGN SAYING ALL LIVES MATTER AND THE PHRASES ARE FRAUGHT.

AND BEING SYMPATHETIC TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL AND NOW BEING AGAINST IT.

DOES IT MATTER WHEN YOU ARE GOING UP AGAINST ALMOST UNLIMITED RESOURCES AS PRITZKER HAS HAD, TOO, ON THE AIRWAVES TO BLANKET THE AIRWAVES WITH COMMERCIALS?

>> I THINK IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

IT IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

WE ARE STILL COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LOOKS LIKE NOW THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NO LONGER PRESIDENT.

HOW MUCH THAT MONEY WILL CARRY WHEN IRVIN MIGHT NOT HAVE A LOT OF NAME RECOGNITION BY THE TIME THAT THOSE ADS AIR BE THEY FROM HIS CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY PRESUMABLY KEN GRIFFIN OR PAID FOR BY PRITZKER THROUGH THE DGA TO TRY AND MAKE HIM LOOK BAD.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN POLLING TO KNOW WHAT THE RACE IS GOING TO SHAPE UP TO BE AND WHERE THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY CLEARLY A DIVIDED ONE HOW THAT IS GOING TO LOOK.

>> I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING SO AND SO IS A FRONTRUNNER BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE NO IDEA AND I HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH POLLING TO INDICATE THAT.

I WANT TO GET A CONTROVERSY WITH GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HE FACED HEAT WHEN TWO APPOINTEES TO THE PRISONER PAROLE BOARD WERE REJECTED BY THE ILLINOIS SENATE.

FRANK MAIN WHY DID THIS BECOME SUCH A FLASHPOINT?

>> IT IS A LAW AND ORDER ISSUE THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE PRESSING TO MAKE PRITZKER LOOK SOFT ON CRIME.

THAT IS PART OF IT.

A EXPLANATION.

THIS GOES BACK YEARS.

THE REAL ISSUE IS YOU HAVE THE OLD GUYS IN PRISON FOR 1970s AND LATE 60s CASES AND THEY HAVE VERY DIFFICULT CASES IN TERMS OF THE FACTS OF CASES.

COP KILLERS, GUYS WHO KILLED TEENAGER THAT KIND OF THING.

THE EASY CASES HAVE BEEN PAROLED.

THESE CASES ARE DIFFICULT.

AND SO HARD RIGHT NOW THAT LAST YEAR KIM FOXX THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY SAID SHE WAS NO LONGER GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH HAS BEEN DONE FOREVER.

SHE IS NOT GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PAROLE BOARD ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN THE CASES.

SHE DAMNED IF SHE DOES AND DAMNED IF SHE DOESN'T.

FLASH FORWARD TO THIS WEEK IN THE LAST MONTH WE HAVE HAD FOUR OF PRITZKER'S NOMINEES GO DOWN.

THERE WERE TWO THIS WEEK.

ONE LAST WEEK.

AND THEN ONE WAS PULLED EARLIER.

AND IN ALL OF THOSE CASES SENATE REPUBLICANS WERE UPSET WITH THE WAY THEY HAD VOTED ON NOT ONLY COP KILLING CASES AND OTHER CONTROVERSIAL CASES.

AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF ELEANOR WILLSON WHO WAS SURPRISINGLY VOTED DOWN BY A BIG NUMBERS LIKE 31-15 AGAINST HER IN THE SENATE.

>> AND THIS IS A BIPARTISAN VOTE?

>> IT WAS.

10 DEMOCRATS CROSSED OVER TO VOTE WITH THE REPUBLICANS ON THAT ONE.

SO IT'S ALSO AN INDICATION, I THINK, IN A BROAD STROKE WAY, THAT CONSTITUENTS ARE PUSHING BACK ON THESE BIG CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE WAY FOR SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS TO SHOW THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS THEY ARE WITH THEM ON THIS.

MAYBE WE WENT TOO FAR.

THE PENDULUM SWUNG TOO FAR.

YEAH, IT WAS A REALLY SURPRISING THING TO SOME PEOPLE IN SPRINGFIELD I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED THIS APPOINTEE TO ESSENTIALLY SIT THERE AND GET PILLARED BEFORE THEY HAD THIS LOPSIDED VOTE AGAINST HER.

>> CERTAINLY A FRAUGHT ISSUE AND SOMETHING THAT WILL BE CENTRAL IN THE RACE.

AND FRANK THERE IS NEWS THAT THE F.B.I.

IS NOW INVESTIGATING AN ALLEGED GHOST PAYROLLING SCHEME IN THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I DIDN'T SEE SHERIFF DART'S NAME IMPLICATED HE IS THE SHERIFF.

IS HE IN HOT WATER OVER THIS?

>> NO.

I MEAN FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW AT LEAST LAST YEAR THEY STARTED INVESTIGATING THIS THING AND IT'S IN THEIR INTERNAL AFFAIRS OPERATION RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE SAYING VERY, VERY LITTLE ABOUT IT AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SAYING YEAH WE STARTED INVESTIGATING THIS THING AND THE F.B.I.

WAS BROUGHT IN TO HELP US INVESTIGATE THIS THING.

WHAT IT IS, IS A GHOST PAYROLL SCHEME IN WHICH ABOUT NINE OR SO FROM WHAT WE HEAR, SHERIFF'S OFFICIALS WERE SUPPOSEDLY MOONLIGHTING IN A SECURITY JOB BUT THEY WORKED THEY WERE DOING IT ON THE SHERIFF'S DIME.

AND SO THAT IS ALL ALLEGED.

AND IT INVOLVED THIS SECURITY COMPANY CALLED BRU STORM SECURITY.

>> FRANK SORRY WE'RE OUT OF TIME WE HAVE TO GO.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT.

AND BASEBALL'S BACK NEXT WEEK.

OUR THANKS TO FRANK MAIN, MARIAH WOEFEL, HANNAH MEISEL AND AMANDA VINICKY.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. NEXT WEEK.

AND FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.