Gov. JB Pritzker has retained a strong Washington, D.C., legislation agency to assist navigate dicey political waters forward of a high-profile look earlier than the U.S. Home Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee on Thursday.
The billionaire governor is paying for the providers of Covington & Burling out of his personal pocket. Dana Remus, former White Home counsel to President Joe Biden, is amongst these serving to Pritzker put together for the June 12 Republican-led committee about immigration insurance policies. Republican attorneys on the agency are additionally offering counsel, in line with a supply with direct data of his preparations.
Remus additionally led vetting of Pritzker as a possible vice presidential candidate throughout Kamala Harris’ presidential marketing campaign final 12 months. Remus additionally served as Biden’s normal counsel for his 2020 presidential marketing campaign.
“The State retained outdoors counsel to supply further experience and capability to answer the committee’s requests and make sure the Governor’s Workplace can stay centered on delivering for the folks of Illinois,” Pritzker spokesman Matt Hill stated in an announcement to the Solar-Occasions. “Whereas Congressional Republicans are losing taxpayer {dollars} all to seek out out that Illinois has all the time adopted the legislation, Governor Pritzker is saving Illinois taxpayers by personally paying for the state’s price of the committee’s inquiry.”
The governor’s workplace didn’t disclose how a lot the agency is being paid. However the metropolis of Denver not too long ago employed Covington & Burling, and Remus, as Denver Mayor Mike Johnston ready for the committee’s March 5 listening to alongside Mayor Brandon Johnson. The Denver Metropolis Council accepted the contract, with charges set at $595 to $1,000 an hour for attorneys on the agency — and capped at $2 million over a one-year interval, in line with Denver Metropolis Council data.
Covington & Burling is among the many legislation companies being focused by the Trump administration. In a February memo, Trump stated he was suspending the clearances of those that suggested former particular counsel Jack Smith, who introduced two federal circumstances towards Trump.
Though Democrats view the committee as a type of political theater, Pritzker’s staff is conscious any misstep might immediate a felony investigation, an allegation of perjury or a wild goose chase for paperwork that would take up loads of time.
Pritzker has been making ready for the testimony since final week, together with a justifiable share of memos and briefings. He’s additionally frolicked reviewing Johnson’s look — and he has spoken to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in regards to the committee, in line with Emanuel.
The governor, who’s seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, can’t afford to make a misstep. He’s identified for political punches in a few of his authorities speeches, together with on this 12 months’s State of the State and finances handle wherein he in contrast President Trump’s playbook to the rise of Nazi Germany.
However that kind of political rhetoric will possible come from conservative firebrands on the committee, together with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.; Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.; Nancy Mace, R-S.C; and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Pritzker has stated he’s ready for grandstanding.
“Actually, I’m not there to lecture to them. I’m there to take questions from them and reply to them. Presumably, the speculation is that they’re having this listening to as a result of they’d prefer to study extra about what we’re doing within the state,” Pritzker instructed reporters final week.
“I believe there could also be members on that committee who’re merely there for a canine and pony present who merely wish to grandstand in entrance of the cameras. I hope not. That’s inappropriate, and I’m going there in a critical matter to provide them my views about how we’re managing by way of an issue that’s been created for the state by the federal authorities.”
Members of Pritzker’s staff started arriving Sunday in Washington. The governor deliberate to reach Monday to proceed prep forward of Thursday’s listening to.
Chief of employees Anne Caprara, Hill, who serves as deputy chief of employees for communications, guide Jordan Abudayyeh, normal counsel Ann Spillane and a deputy normal counsel for the state are a part of Pritzker’s staff on the bottom in Washington.
Pritzker, together with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, had been summoned in March by U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky, chairman of the congressional committee, to take part within the listening to in regards to the Democratic states’ immigration insurance policies.
Comer has accused the three states of “actively searching for to impede federal immigration enforcement,” an allegation Pritzker has flatly denied. Pritzker has stated Illinois is abiding by a state legislation that doesn’t allow native legislation enforcement to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2017 signed the Belief Act, which prohibits legislation enforcement all through the state from collaborating with ICE. Town has an identical ordinance in place.
Johnson endured a related listening to in March alongside the mayors of fellow sanctuary cities Boston, New York and Denver.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who’s working for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat, is the one Illinois member on the committee. Pritzker is backing his lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton within the contested Senate race.
