South Central Reporter

Republican state Attorney General candidate Thomas DeVore is questioning incumbent Attorney General Kwame Raoul's motives for a special prosecutor in the Jenny Thornley case.

DeVore noted that Raoul "deflects by saying there is a conflict which is why his office hasn’t prosecuted Thornley for work comp fraud." 

“The AG and the State's Attorney each have statutory jurisdiction and a duty to prosecute the alleged worker's comp fraud," DeVore said. "Either can delegate to the Appellate Prosecutor's office for a variety of reasons – such as a conflict – but only with the approval of the court after explaining the conflict. Without a court order empowering the prosecution, the appellate prosecutor's office has no authority. So either AG Raoul has quietly sought a court order to appoint a special prosecutor into the Thornley workers comp fraud – or his spokesman is lying.”

According to Cook County Record, a spokesperson for the Attorney General told The Center Square via email that "allegations of workers comp fraud against Jenny Thornley were sent to the appellate prosecutor’s office, the same entity handling a separate criminal case filed late last year in Sangamon County alleging overtime fraud."

“The Attorney General’s office moved the [overtime] case forward by referring allegations of theft and forgery to the State Appellate Prosecutor’s office, and criminal charges are pending against Ms. Thornley as a result,” Raoul press secretary Annie Thompson said. “Just as we referred the theft and forgery allegations, we have referred allegations that Ms. Thornley committed workers compensation fraud to the appellate prosecutor’s office. Our understanding is the matter is under review by that office.”

Records found by The Center Square revealed Thornley texted M.K. Pritzker, the first lady of Illinois, requesting that she forward the message to Pritzker. 

“I need JB to know what’s going on and hope they are keeping him aware,” Thornley said in a text, according to The Center Square. 

Pritzker's office became engaged in the situation, going so far as to see that her allegedly fraudulent workers' compensation claim was paid out. Despite the accusations, Raoul, who is up for reelection this year, referred to the situation as a "nothing burger" when questioned about it at a press conference. Raoul's remarks were made despite the fact that Thornley had received workers' compensation benefits despite having her accusations proven false and being charged with cheating the agency.

Wirepoints has been carefully monitoring the situation. Raoul's office allegedly lied when it claimed to have forwarded the matter to the State Appellate Prosecutor's office, according to both it and Center Square.

DeVore took to Facebook that Raoul's reason "doesn’t even make any sense."  

DeVore will be challenging Raoul in the Nov. 8 election.