IL Governor Candidate Bailey Refuses Election Result Question

CHICAGO — Republican Illinois state senator and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey has had plenty to say when going after the policies of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whom Bailey has criticized for keeping mask requirements in place as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

But when Bailey was asked by a television reporter Wednesday about whether the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection was “legitimate political discourse” as the Republican National Convention has suggested, Bailey refused to answer and abruptly ended his news conference.

Bailey walked out of the news conference which had been called in response to Pritzker’s announcement that Illinois’ statewide mask mandate will be lifted on Feb. 28. Bailey said Wednesday that he does not believe COVID-19 vaccines save lives and said that wearing masks and getting the vaccine should be a personal choice and not be mandated by state officials.

But when the topic shifted, Bailey decided he had answered enough questions.

In a video posted on the Twitter account of WCIA3 capitol bureau chief Mark Maxwell, Bailey was asked whether he will accept the results of the 2020 presidential election and if the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection attempt was legitimate political discourse, Bailey smiles and responds, “This (news conference) is over.

“I’ve told you from Day 1 you can’t ask a legitimate question and report the truth,” Bailey says to Maxwell while pointing his finger at the reporter. “This has nothing to do with what we’re here (for). Thank you very much.”

Bailey was then asked twice more if he will accept the election results, but walks out without responding.

“Senator, you’re running for governor,” Maxwell is heard off camera saying. “Will you accept the election results?”

In December, a former Bailey campaign activist was charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot. Chicago resident Lawrence Ligas was charged with illegally entering and remaining inside the Capitol.

Bailey’s campaign distanced itself from Ligas, WBEZ reported, and said that Ligas was not formally associated with Bailey’s campaign.

“We’re shocked by this news, and we do not condone any illegal activities,” Bailey spokesman Joe DeBose said in a written statement, according to WBEZ . “He has never been a member of our campaign staff. We support law and order and trust the court system to ensure anyone breaking the law is held accountable for their actions.”