The Democratic governor of Illinois confirmed this week that his wife and daughter left the state before he issued a statewide lockdown order and traveled back recently.
“My wife and daughter were down in Florida in early March and, in fact, even a little before that, and you know, they sheltered in place when the stay-at-home order came up,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “And they stayed there until very recently. So, you know, we’ll say, you know, we have a working farm. They’re there now. There are animals on that farm. That is an essential function to take care of animals at a farm.”
A journalist for Patch reported in April that, “Specifically, the first lady has been spending time at their $12-million equestrian estate in Wellington, just down the horse trail from Bruce Springsteen, Bill Gates and Billy Joel, the family purchased shortly after J.B. was elected governor last year.”
Pritzker said last month, his official duties as governor “have nothing to do with my family.”
“So, I’m not going to answer that question. It’s inappropriate and I find it reprehensible,” he told a reporter asking about a report his family had traveled to a home in Florida amid the pandemic.
Pritzker last month extended the Illinois stay-at-home order until May 30.
WATCH: @GovPritzker asked where his family has been during stay at home order.
He admits they were in FL at one of their homes…and then traveled to another one of their homes in WI…to take care of farm animals. #twill pic.twitter.com/Gwvhu2WiI1
— Illinois Rising Action (@ILRisingAction) May 16, 2020
