The Illinois Accountability Commission sent letters on April 3 to current and former Trump Administration officials, requesting their testimony at two upcoming hearings as part of its ongoing investigation into federal misconduct during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago and Illinois.
The request is part of the Commission’s effort to examine the roles and decisions of key officials involved in the operation, which has been criticized for its aggressive tactics. The hearings aim to clarify how Operation Midway Blitz was planned, authorized, and implemented across the state.
Letters were addressed by Judge Rubén Castillo, Chair of the Illinois Accountability Commission, to several individuals identified as architects of the operation. These include Stephen Miller (White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy), Tom Homan (White House “Border Czar”), Kristi Noem (former Secretary of Homeland Security), Gregory Bovino (former “Commander at Large” of Customs and Border Patrol), Tricia McLaughlin (former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs), Corey Lewandowski (former Homeland Security Special Government Employee), Todd Lyons (Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and Rodney Scott (Commissioner, Customs and Border Patrol).
Governor JB Pritzker said: “I established the Illinois Accountability Commission to preserve the truth and document how Donald Trump and his accomplices violated the rights of Illinoisans and terrorized our communities during Operation Midway Blitz. These officials should answer directly to the people of Illinois for the chaos and violence they unleashed. Regardless of whether these officials are still in their roles or not, the people of Illinois demand accountability from them all.”
Judge Rubén Castillo added: “The people of Illinois deserve to know how this operation was planned, authorized, and carried out—and to identify who was responsible for the decisions that led to its implementation in our state. The Commission’s work seeks to determine who authorized these actions, what safeguards were in place to protect Illinois residents, and what accountability mechanisms exist when federal operations harm communities.”
The hearings are scheduled for Monday, April 27, and Tuesday, April 28. A final report will be provided by April 30 as directed by Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order establishing the commission.
