Johnson Refuses to Answer Whether He Would Pursue Stricter Penalties for Repeat Gun Offenders At WGN Debate

Vallas also releases photo of Brandon Johnson leading a protest demanding to defund the police, an issue that he continues to deny and waterdown. Johnson also has defended looters saying that he opposed tougher crackdowns on looters because they were merely expressing the challenges they face in life

At last night’s WGN Mayoral Debate, moderator Tahman Bradley asked the candidates how they would hold repeat gun offenders accountable for their crimes.

While Paul Vallas described in detail how he would utilize federal charging statutes to take repeat gun offenders off the streets, Brandon Johnson refused to provide any answer at all, raising questions on whether or not he would prioritize prosecuting dangerous criminals to the full extent of the law.

Below is a transcript of the exchange:

Bradley: Mr. Johnson, same question, 60 seconds, what should be the consequences for people repeatedly arrested and charged with gun crimes?

Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Phot courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign

Johnson: Look, here’s the problem. Someone like Paul Vallas that wants to continue to give someone like me a lecture about what I know vs. what he knows is ridiculous, but I’m familiar with that.

As the Chicago Tribune reported: “At one point, Johnson was asked what consequences individuals who are repeatedly charged with gun crimes should face but he did not answer the question.”

Johnson went on to once again wrongly state that it takes two years to become a Chicago police officer, which has been thoroughly debunked by Vallas and the press. He did not address the serious issue of repeat gun offenders being let off on misdemeanors, which Vallas believes is contributing to the city’s crime problem.

“We already know that Brandon Johnson wants to defund the police, but now he won’t even say whether he would push prosecutors to pursue all possible criminal charges against the repeat gun offenders who are terrorizing many of our communities,” said Vallas. “As Mayor I will work with the city, county, state and federal prosecutors to ensure that we are doing everything possible to put repeat violent offenders in jail and get them off our streets and away from our residents. If Brandon Johnson doesn’t agree with that, then that’s absolutely disqualifying.”

While Brandon Johnson insists that he “never said defund the police,” his strong embrace of the radical anti-police movement continues to become even more clear. Today, the Vallas campaign is releasing a photo that recently surfaced of Johnson speaking at a rally in January 2021 standing directly in front of a “Defund CPD” banner.

“Brandon Johnson must not think much of Chicago voters if he honestly believes that he can get away with continuing to lie to them about his clear, unequivocal support for defunding the police,” said Vallas campaign spokesman Phil Swibinski. “When pressed at a recent debate, Johnson said that his “thinking has not changed” from when he was a vocal supporter of defunding the police — the only thing that has changed is that now he’s running for Mayor and doesn’t want the voters to know about his radical, anti-law enforcement views.”

Vallas also picked up endorsements from Former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, a coalition of Latio leaders in Chicago, and from former Congressman Bobby Rush.