Chicago mayor agrees to donate gifts to charity; Republican lawmakers claim victory
A Republican lawmaker is reportedly winning after the mayor of Chicago agreed to donate contents of a “secret gift room” to charities a few days later at a House hearing.
Rep. Brandon Gill of R-Texas said on X: “He is making a public gift a few days after I forced corruption @chicagosmayor to answer for his secret gift room. They are now donating to charities.”
“Chicago is a sheltered city that is terrorizing the American people. Mayor Brandon Johnson has been a major supporter and defender of the sheltered city,” Jill continued. “At the same time, he accepted luxurious gifts from undisclosed sources.”
Gill asked Mayor Brandon Johnson about gifts he received, including Hugo boss cuff links and a personalized Mont Blank pen during a Housing Oversight Board hearing last week.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
“I didn’t receive these people in person, and the City of Chicago received these,” Johnson said. “These are not my personal gifts, but gifts from the City of Chicago, which is why you know they exist.”
After the hearing, ABC7 Chicago reported what it called the “Mayor’s Gift Room.” Gifts include Kate Spade’s woman’s handbags, T-shirts and coffee cups, some of which predated Johnson’s inauguration. Others include the signed Chicago Bulls jersey and NASCAR game suit.
The store reports that all items are now classified on the city website, which lists when and by whom. According to media reports, gifts will be donated to charities, and the mayor’s office will open gift rooms to the public one day each quarter.
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The inquiry comes after a critical Chicago Inspector General report that criticized the lack of transparency and reported that 70% of gifts did not record the identity of who provided the gift. There are over 300 gifts in the room.
“When the gift changes hands in the windowless room of the Town Hall, there is no opportunity to monitor and publicly review the appropriateness of such gifts, the identity and intention of the gift giver, or the meaning of gifts like whiskey, jewelry, handbags and 14-year-old men’s shoes, and has been accepted for shoes of 14 sizes.
The city did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rep. Brandon Gill (Getty Image)
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Jill linked the room to ongoing disputes surrounding the city of “sanctuary”, which limits the ability of state and local law enforcement to collaborate with immigration and customs enforcement.
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“While welcomed this new discovery of transparency, it was not enough. The Sanctuary City policy must end immediately. Our elected officials are responsible for U.S. citizens, not illegal foreigners,” he said.
