Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson was accused of not properly documented by designer gifts, while blurring the access to the “gift room” of the City Hall “, according to the report of the Chicago Office, the General Inspector (OIG).
OIG announced a report on Wednesday, accusing the Mayor of Chicago for accepting gifts, including Hugo Boss Cuff Links, Personalized Montblanc pencil, US Football team 2023, Gucci Tota Bag, Kate Bags Kate Bag and Carrucci Size 14 shoes from February 2, 2022 2022 .
The report states that almost 70% of the 380 recorded gifts received from February 2, 2022 to 20 March 2024.
The city received the National Soccer team jersey on June 16, 2023 from Nike representatives. On October 3, 2023, the city received Airpods, a Tota bag and a notebook from an executive power with the US mayor conference.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is charged with improperly accepting designer gifts. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
But the other enters, such as the Hugo Boss Cuff connection, the personalized Montblanc pencils received on June 12, 2023, and the Gucci Tota and Crossbody bag were received on March 18, 2024, do not include information about identity who provided a gift.
The OIG staff went to the fifth floor of the City Hall on November 8, 2024, to request access to the gift room, unannounced, in order to carry out the inspection of the way gifts in the city and audit gifts and review controls for access rooms.
Instead, Oid welcomed Chika police Officers, according to the report. After explaining OIG’s request for a gift room, OIG staff said that the elevator in the lobby was waiting.
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Gifts include Hugo Boss Cuff Links, Personalized Montblanc pencil, American football team 2023, football team jersey, Gucci Tota bag, Kate Spade’s red bag and more, according to the general city. (Reuters/Vincent Alban)
During the wait, OIG spoke with older members of the Mayor’s Office regarding the request, and then handed over a written request for access to the room.
After further delaying, the Mayor’s Office announced that he had talked to the advisor, who said that OIG would not be approved by access to the gift room that day. In order to approach the room, OIG was said to have to schedule a meeting, the report said.
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Once the OIG was rejected, he became involved in further conversations with the Ministry of the Law to access the gift room, and it was said that he was not approved.
AND OIG said in his report These discoveries of gifts required by government ethics (geo) promote transparency and responsibility.
“When gifts change their hands-maybe literally in a window without windows at the City Hall, there is no opportunity to control and public supervision of the suitability of such gifts, identity and intention of the provider, or what it means for gifts such as whiskey, jewelry, handbags and men’s shoes in size 14 that will Being accepted “on behalf of the city” is said in the report.
Some of the gifts were accepted while former mayor Lori Lightfoot was in power, while others were accepted after Johnson laid the oath.
Johnson told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that the OIG report was the wrong characterization of what happened.
“These are gifts to the city. They are recorded,” Johnson told reporters. “The characterization of the way this report came out is wrong and, again, we will make sure that our team gives you the approach you need so that you can see the gifts that are given to the City.”
The mayor said that there is a procedure that everyone has to go through, adding that no one is above the law, not even the OIG.
As for gifts, Johnson said that time would go to the community function and get a gift bag as a sign of gratitude.
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“I don’t want people to think that there is a place in the city government where there is only a wall full of belts and socks, shoes and imaginative hats,” Johnson said, noting that he actually received hats.
“With all due respect, sometimes I believe that people are persecuting a wall without anything on it. There is a diary. It’s there. It’s there for years.”
Johnson also said he had never seen the gift room he mentioned to.
“I don’t think there is a room, [but] If people want a tour of this room, I will sign up because I have never been to it, “he said.
