South Central Reporter

GOP attorney general candidate Tom DeVore said if elected he will force Cook County State’s Attorney to do her job and will continue to investigate scandals in the governor’s office.

“I can be a supportive partner to a prosecutor who fights crime on behalf of the people, but I will not stand by silently if Kim Foxx refuses to do her job putting criminals behind bars," DeVore said in the op-ed. “No public official should be permitted to destroy a city and the opportunities and property values of the people who reside there. Fiddling as Chicago burns is not an option I find acceptable. Some called me a bulldog for my refusal to stand by as Gov. Pritzker exceeded his constitutional authority with his illegal mandates. Others called me a watchdog as I highlighted for the people the corruption that goes right into the governor’s office in the Thornley case.” 

DeVore said he doesn't care how others perceive him so long as he is able to look after Illinoisans' welfare.

“I don’t care what you call me," he said. "As a private practice attorney, I stood up for parents, first responders, and state workers against a governor and mayor who were abusing their power over them. I will do the same as attorney general. Illinoisans need a check on the powerful in this state now more than ever. I have been a fighter for you. My loyalty has always been and will always be to you – the people, not the powerful.” 

The surge in violence in Chicago has drawn criticism for Lori Lightfoot, the mayor of Chicago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Cook County State Kim Foxx, and all of them; the governor alone has faced criticism for the state's rising crime statistics. GOP gubernatorial candidate Bailey has criticized Pritzker in particular for the harm that he believes the SAFE-T Act, which goes into force on January 1, 2023, Will County Gazette reported.

Foxx was reprimanded by James Murphy III, a former office manager who oversaw grand jury and criminal bail proceedings in Foxx's office. 

“I cannot continue to work for an Administration I no longer respect," Murphy said in the letter according to CWBChicago “A few months ago, I was summoned into a meeting with the State’s Attorney so she could criticize some bond hearings I did. One involved a massive shootout and the other involved a woman who was walking to the store when she was gunned down in a crossfire. The bond hearings involved gun possession charges only. The State’s Attorney communicated that she was upset because a headline in a newspaper read ‘Man won’t face murder charge under the Safe-T Act.’ The State’s Attorney voiced her concern with the headline and the heat she was getting from her backers and never voiced any concern over the fact that this woman was shot and killed simply walking to the store. And nobody was going to face a murder charge. That is what is wrong with this Administration. I’ve seen it day after day. How many mass shootings do there have to be before something is done? This Administration is more concerned with political narratives and agendas than with victims and prosecuting violent crime. That is why I can’t stay any longer.”

DeVore said that 'Foxx is an operative for a powerful political machine,' Chicago City Wire reported.

Following Pritzker's intervention, Jenny Thornley, a former state employee and Pritzker campaign worker received $71,000 in worker's compensation benefits. She allegedly fabricated overtime fraud, according to Capitol Fox. Thornley is now awaiting criminal charges, yet she still lost her job for which she was paid $86,400 annually. Attorney General Kwame Raoul – DeVore’s Nov. 8 opponent – is being criticized for not properly handling the case.