Gov. Pritzker says threats increased to his office since Charlie Kirk shooting
Pritzker also called for transparency after man was shot and killed by ICE agent in Franklin Park.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Governor JB Pritzker said that in the days since Charlie Kirk's assassination his office has seen an increase in the number of threats.
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"The number of threats that have come in over the last few days has been an enormous multiple of those that were coming in in the days before," Pritzker said.
SEE ALSO | Charlie Kirk killing: Suspect had 'obsession' with the conservative influencer, FBI says
Pritzker called for both sides of the political aisle to ramp down the rhetoric, even as he is coming under fire for some of the things he's said recently.
The political climate seems more highly charged than usual since Kirk's murder.
On Monday, Pritzker called out President Donald Trump for not being a unifying voice, while at the same time denying that he's contributing to the problem.
The governor spoke following a roundtable at City Colleges of Chicago to discuss how federal deployments are impacting students.
"This is a moment when Americans must come together and say clearly that threats and political violence are not the answer," Pritzker said.
Pritzker accused Trump of fanning the flames of division.
Trump blamed the radical left for Charlie Kirk's murder before a suspect was identified.
The Illinois Freedom Caucus, made up of conservative republicans, has now filed articles of impeachment against Pritzker accusing him of reckless rhetoric.
"Anyone who is saying things that, especially in this moment, right when we should have calm, when we should have someone at the top who is asking people to take a step back, anyone who is doing that deserves criticism," Pritzker said.
"I think every elected official needs to go back and look at what they've said over the past year and really needs to think about how they want to move forward. The country is at a boiling point on so many levels, because of the economy and also because of just what we're hearing from elected officials," former House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said.
Pritzker says he has seen an increase in threats to his office in recent days.
"I feel safe because I'm protected. My family feels safe because we're protected, but, the truth is that the number of threats and the number of people who seem to want to engage in political violence has increased substantially," the governor said Monday.
Pritzker and other leaders calling for both sides to lower the political temperature.
"I think it's really incumbent upon leaders to try to set an example and make sure that the words they're choosing in speaking to an audience are appropriate," State Sen. John Curran (R) said.
Curran taking the unusual step in recent days of putting out a joint statement with Senate President Don Harmon calling for calm and decrying political violence of any kind.
Governor Pritzker himself noting the importance of that bipartisan move.
SEE ALSO | Illinois officials demand release of video in deadly shooting involving ICE officer in Franklin Park
Pritzker also called on transparency in the deadly involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Franklin Park.
Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez was shot and killed allegedly resisted arrest and tried to drive his car into the arrest team, according to an ICE spokesperson.
AP News contributed to this report.
