As Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner prepares to support the re-election of US Senator Mark Kirk, the governor says he’s not familiar with a controversial letter to Iran signed by his Republican ally.
Governor Rauner is close with Senator Kirk. Rauner hired several of Kirk’s employees when he became governor. And the Sun-Times today reports Rauner will attend a fundraiser for Kirk on Monday and steer his own donors to Kirk’s re-election campaign next year.
"Well I think Mark Kirk has been a phenomenal senator and I’m pulling for him to win."
But Rauner says he’s unaware of a letter signed by Kirk that’s drawn controversy. The letter criticized the president’s stance on nuclear negotiations with Iran.
"Oh, I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with the letter."
Rauner says he’s staying out of Kirk’s re-election campaign and that he’s focused on financial problems facing Illinois.
At a separate news event today, Kirk defended signing the letter saying it’s unlikely the president will get a nuclear agreement with Iran.