Grooming Probe In Channahon: GOP Calls For McCullagh To Drop Out

CHANNAHON, IL — Amid allegations of grooming, the Illinois executive director of the House Republican Majority is calling for Shorewood Republican Tom McCullagh to drop out of the primary for State Representative in the 97th District.

A story about the allegations of grooming was first published on Tuesday morning by Capitol Fax.

"In light of this extremely disturbing information, Tom McCullagh should immediately withdraw as a candidate for elected office and seek help," Jayme Siemer, executive director of the House Republican Majority, said in a statement to Patch. "Children should always be protected by adults, and our prayers are with the victim of this horrific situation."

Joliet Patch obtained a copy of the Channahon Police Department report surrounding its grooming investigation involving McCullagh. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the case.

According to Channahon's police report, McCullagh met the juvenile last summer at Channahon's Three Rivers Festival, and he spent considerable time with them on a golf cart.

In mid-November, the juvenile's family contacted the Channahon police, a few days after the family discovered the juvenile had received a bottle of Smirnoff Marshmallow Vodka on the night of Nov. 9, 2021, according to the police report. The youth told their parents the alcohol was given to them by McCullagh.

According to Capitol Fax, the publication reached out to McCullagh for comment, and he responded by stating, "That my political opponent would leak this to you demonstrates how desperate my opponent is."

McCullagh is running in the June GOP primary against Michelle Smith, who is the Plainfield Township clerk and a former Plainfield Community Consolidated 202 school board member. In March, McCullagh issued a news release calling for Smith to withdraw her candidacy, suggesting he found evidence of fraud in the collection of signatures for her candidacy.

When Patch reached out to McCullagh for comment Tuesday, he referred any questions to Joliet attorney Eric J. Blatti, whom he described as a long-time family friend.

Last October, Patch reported that more than 180 people attended a campaign announcement at Skooter's Roadhouse for McCullagh. At that time, the Shorewood Republican announced he was making his second unsuccessful run against Democrat Meg Loughran Cappel to represent the voters in the State Senate's 49th District.

"An elected representative's first obligation is to public safety, and our current State Senator is an abject failure in this category," McCullagh stated. "I stand strongly with law enforcement. Our families deserve to be kept safe."

On Nov. 3, McCullagh notified Joliet Patch that he planned to run for the seat currently held by State Rep. Mark Batinick of Plainfield. An officeholder since 2014, Batinick announced that he will not seek re-election in 2022.

"I want to thank Mark Batinick for his almost eight years as a state rep providing great conservative leadership in the greater Plainfield area," McCullagh said in November. "When looking at places to live, the Plainfield-Shorewood area stood out because Mark Batinick was the state rep. After hearing of his intent to not run again, I decided to run to fill the seat in the '22 cycle. I know I have a lot to live up to, but I intend to represent the people of the 97th district to the best of my ability."

Read the Channahon police report on the grooming investigation below: