Accepted designer gifts from the Chicago Mayor Office without informing them properly: OIG

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been accused of not properly documenting the gifts of designers while blocking access to the “gift room” of the City Council, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General of the City of Chicago (OIG).

The OIG published the report on Wednesday, accusing the office of the chicago mayor of accept February 2022, until March 20, 2024.

The report indicates that almost 70% of the 380 registered gifts received from February 2, 2022 to March 20, 2024 do not list the identity of the donor.

The city received the national football team shirt on June 16, 2023, from a Nike representative. On October 3, 2023, the city received Airpods, a handbag and a notes of an executive of the United States mayors conference.

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But other tickets, such as Hugo Boss’s links, and Montblanc’s personalized pen received on June 12, 2023, and a Gucci Tote bag and a crossbody bag received on March 18, 2024, did not include information about the identity of who provided the gift.

The FLA staff went to the fifth floor of the City Council of November 8, 2024, to request access to the gift room, without prior notice, to make an inspection of the way in which gifts are stored to the city and to audit gifts and check controls to access the gift room.

Instead, the OID was fulfilled Chicago police Officers, the report said. After explaining the OIG request to see the gift room, an elevator told the IIG staff to wait in a lobby.

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While waiting, the IIG spoke with high -level members of the mayor’s office regarding the application, then submitted a written application to access the room.

After a greater delay, the mayor’s office said he spoke with the lawyer, who said that the OIG would not be given access to the gift room that day. To access the room, OIG was told that an appointment would have to make, according to the report.

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Once he refused the OIG, he dedicated himself to additional conversations with the Law department to access the gift room, and it was told that he was not granted access.

He OIG said in his report that the revelations of gifts required by the Government Ethics Ordinance (GEO) promote transparency and responsibility.

“When the gifts are changing hands, perhaps literally, in a room without windows in the town hall, there is no opportunity for the supervision and public scrutiny of the property of such gifts, the identities and intentions of the gifts, or what It means for gifts such as whiskey, jewelry, bags and shoes 14 to be accepted ‘in the name of the city,’ “the report said.

Some of the gifts were accepted while former mayor Lori Lightfoot was in office, while others were accepted after Johnson lent oath.

Johnson told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that the OIG report was an erroneous characterization of what happened.

“These are gifts for the city. They are registered,” Johnson told reporters. “The characterization of how this report came out is wrong and, again, we will make sure that our team gives you the access you need so you can see the gifts given to the city.”

The mayor said that there is a process through which everyone must pass, and added that no one is above the law, not even the OIG.

As for gifts, Johnson said there are times to go to a community function and receive a gift bag as a show of thanks.

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“I don’t want people to think there is a space in the city government where there is only one wall full of belts, socks and elegant shoes and hats,” said Johnson, and said he has actually received hats.

“With due respect, sometimes I think people pursue a wall with nothing. There is a record. He is there. He has been there for years.”

Johnson also said he has never seen the gift room to which the IGE referred to.

“I don’t think there is a room, (but) if people want a tour of this room, I will register because I have never been in it myself,” he said.