Illinois Accountability Commission Requests Testimony from Trump Officials

Illinois Accountability Commission Requests Testimony from Trump Officials

CHICAGO - Today, the Illinois Accountability Commission sent letters to the current and former Trump Administration officials responsible for Operation Midway Blitz, requesting their testimony at two upcoming hearings as part of the Commission's ongoing collection of evidence into the widespread federal misconduct and reckless tactics deployed by federal agents across Chicago and Illinois.

The letters, sent today by the Commission's Chair Judge Rubén Castillo, were addressed to the following architects of Operation Midway Blitz:

• 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 (CBP)
• 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 (ICE)
• Rodney Scott, Commissioner, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)

"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," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Regardless of whether these officials are still in their roles or not, the people of Illinois demand accountability from them all."

The requests to appear for testimony at two upcoming hearings follow Governor Pritzker's directive for the Commission to examine the roles and responsibilities of key Trump Administration officials, and seek further answers related to the statements, policy decisions, and roles that contributed to the escalation of aggressive and unlawful enforcement tactics displayed throughout Operation Midway Blitz.

"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," said Judge Rubén Castillo, Illinois Accountability Commission Chair. "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."

Governor Pritzker established the Illinois Accountability Commission to create a public record of federal law enforcement misconduct to hold Trump's agents accountable for their hostile actions and military-style operations in Illinois. The Commission will hold two hearings on Monday, April 27, and Tuesday, April 28, and provide their final report to Governor Pritzker on April 30, as directed by his Executive Order.

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About the Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC)

The Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC) is an independent body established by Executive Order to review federal law enforcement operations in Illinois, document their impact on residents and communities, and make recommendations for accountability and reform. With support from the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Commission will conduct public hearings and issue an interim report to the Governor and the People of Illinois by January 31, 2026, with a final report by April 30, 2026.