Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson is accused of not correct documentation of designer gifts and at the same time block access to the ‘Gift Room’ town hall, according to a report from the City of Chicago Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The OIG released the report on Wednesday and accused the mayor of the mayor of Chicago of accepting gifts, including Hugo Boss Cuff Left, a personalized Montblanc -Pen, a US National Soccer Team Jersey from 2023, a Gucci tote Bag, a Kate Spade Red Purse and Carrucci -size 14 shoes from 2 February 2022 to March 20, 2024.
The report notes that almost 70% of the 380 fixed gifts from 2 February 2022 to 20 March 2024 do not state the identity of the donor.
The city received the National Soccer Team Jersey 16 June 2023, from a representative of Nike. On October 3, 2023, the city received Airpods, a carrier bag and a notebook from a director of the American conference of mayors.
Mayor Brandon Johnson in Chicago has been accused of incorrect accepting of designer gifts. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
But other entries, such as the Hugo Boss Cuff Left and Personalized Montblanc Pen received on 12 June 2023, and a Gucci Tote -Tas and Crossbody bag received on March 18, 2024, contain no information about the identity of whom the gift provided.
Staff of the OIG went to the fifth floor of the Town Hall 8 November 2024, to request unprecedented access to the gift room, to carry out an inspection of the way in which gifts are stored on the city and for the gifts and assessment controls to be checked for access to the gift room.
Instead, the or something was met by Chicago Police Officers noted the report. After he explained the OIG’s request to view the gift room, the OIG staff was told to wait by a lift in a lobby.
The gifts include Hugo Boss Cuff on the left, a personalized Montblanc -pen, a US National Soccer Team Jersey from 2023, a Gucci Tote -Bag, a Kate Spade Red Purse and more, according to the Inspector General of the City. (Reuters/Vincent Alban)
While waiting, the Oig spoke with senior members of the mayor’s office with regard to the request and then presented a written request to gain access to the Chamber.
After further delay, the mayor’s office said it spoke to the counsel, who said that Oig would not have access to the gift room that day. To gain access to the room, the Oig was told that it should make an appointment, according to the report.
After the OIG was refused, it had further discussions with the Ministry of Law due to access to the gift room, and it was told that no access was granted.
The Said Oig in his report That gift is announced by the Public Ethics Regulation (GEO), promote transparency and accountability.
“When gifts of the owner are literally-in a room without windows in the town hall, there is no opportunity for supervision and public control of the accuracy of such gifts, the identities and intentions of the gift meetings, or what it means for gifts such as Whiskey, jewelry, handbags and men’s shoes from size 14 to be accepted ‘on behalf of the city’, ‘noted the report.
Some gifts were accepted while former mayor Lori Lightfoot was in office, while others were accepted after Johnson had taken the oath of office.
Johnson told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that the Oig report was a wrong characterization of what happened.
“These are gifts to the city. They are recorded,” Johnson told reporters. “The characterization of how this report came out is misleading, and again, we will ensure that our team gives you the access you need so that you can see the gifts given to the city.”
The mayor said there is a process that everyone has to go through, adding that no one is above the law, not even the oig.
As for the gifts, Johnson said there are times when he goes to a community function and gets a gift bag as a token of appreciation.
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“I don’t want people to think that there is a space in the city council where there is just a wall full of straps and socks and shoes and chic hats,” Johnson said, and noted that he actually received hats.
“With all due respect, sometimes I believe that people with nothing on a wall. There is a logbook. It’s there. It’s been there for years.”
Johnson also said that he has never seen the gift room to which the Oig referred.
“I don’t think there is a room, (but) if people want a tour of this room, I will register because I have never been there myself,” he said.
