Chicago City Wire

State Representative Adam Niemerg from Dieterich, Illinois, has publicly criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker on the social media platform X. Niemerg accused Pritzker of exploiting a tragedy for political gain and called for his impeachment, alleging that the governor betrayed his office and the people.

"Governor Pritzker's rhetoric isn't just distasteful—it's dangerous," said Adam M. Niemerg. "Instead of unity, he chose hatred. If a Republican said this, the outrage would be nonstop. With Pritzker, it's excuses and cover. A Governor who foments division and weaponizes tragedy cannot lead."

In 2018, according to the Cook County Inspector General, Pritzker and his wife were found to have removed toilets from their Gold Coast mansion to render it officially "uninhabitable." This action significantly lowered its assessed value, qualifying them for a property tax break. The inspector general described this as a "scheme to defraud" taxpayers through "false representations" to the assessor's office. Subsequently, Pritzker agreed to repay approximately $330,000 to the Cook County Treasurer for the tax breaks he received.

The SAFE-T Act in Illinois, signed by Pritzker in 2021, eliminated cash bail statewide under the Pretrial Fairness Act. This legislation took full effect on September 18, 2023. According to numerous prosecutors and sheriffs across many counties, the law violates parts of the Illinois Constitution by removing judicial discretion in detaining defendants and altering pretrial release procedures. Opponents argue that it was rushed through without adequate debate and contains confusing or contradictory language in key provisions.

Critics of the SAFE-T Act contend that ending cash bail without sufficient compensating protections jeopardizes public safety. They express concern that individuals accused of serious crimes could be released pending trial without enough checks in place. Law enforcement officials claim that judges and prosecutors now have fewer tools to detain defendants deemed risky and note unresolved questions about handling non-violent versus violent offenses, flight risk, and public threat assessments. Multiple court cases have been filed combining challenges from over 60 counties claiming constitutional violations due to these concerns.

Niemerg is a lifelong resident of Effingham County and currently resides in rural Dieterich (Bishop Township), Illinois, with his wife Trina and their two children. He graduated from Teutopolis High School in 2002 and earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University. Before entering politics, he spent 12 years as a senior claims adjuster at COUNTRY Financial.