© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Rauner distances himself from the resignation of reporter

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner says his campaign didn't cause a longtime Chicago Sun-Times reporter to quit. Springfield bureau chief Dave McKinney resigned Wednesday, after he says the paper tried to push him out of his political beat.

McKinney says the Rauner campaign tried to kill a story that detailed allegations of a former business associate. In a sworn affidavit, the business partner says Rauner threatened her and her family. Rauner's campaign failed to stop the story, but the campaign alleged McKinney had a conflict of interest because his wife is a Democratic political consultant.

McKinney says his wife works on out-of-state campaigns, and had taken special precaution to avoid any involvement in the race for governor. Rauner's campaign wished McKinney well, and the candidate says the campaign did nothing wrong.

"I know that our campaign staff was very upset and talked with reporters and I believe editors at the Sun-Times about that particular article but that's part of the standard process, went through the proper channels. It sounds like the Sun-Times has internal management issues and I have no interest getting in the middle of that, that has nothing to do with our campaign," said Rauner.

Rauner had been a part-owner of the Sun-Times' parent company until he sold his stake last year. After three years of not endorsing candidates, the paper's editorial board endorsed Rauner on Sunday.
 

Hannah covers state government and politics for NPR Illinois and Illinois Public Radio. She previously covered the statehouse for The Daily Line and Law360, and also worked a temporary stint at the political blog Capitol Fax in 2018.