Democrat gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker has renewed his long-standing promise to release his tax returns, although the state Republican Party remains skeptical.
During a Nov. 15 news conference in Urbana, during which Pritzker was endorsed by State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Pritzker said he would release his returns by Dec. 4, Peoria Public Radio reported. Dec. 4 is the final day candidates can submit their petitions in order to be placed on the ballot in March primary.
However, Illinois Republican Party spokesman Aaron DeGroot said in a news release that Pritzker has made this kind of promise before with no results.
“Pritzker’s team has finally clarified their statements for the past seven months that his tax returns will be released ‘soon’ by kicking the can down the road yet again,” DeGroot said. “Pritzker is trying to hide, but Illinois voters will remain skeptical in the face of his deception.”
The news release also indicated that there would be renewed interest in the candidate’s returns in light of a Chicago Tribune report that his sister, Penny Pritzker, had moved shares in offshore investments to a Delaware limited liability company that was owned by trusts benefiting her children. The transaction coming not long after she became the U.S. commerce secretary in 2013.
The discovery was part of the Paradise Papers that have revealed records of tax havens located offshore.
