Cook County inspector general: JB Pritzker 'scheme to defraud' won tax breaks

JB Pritzker is insisting he did nothing wrong after the inspector general for Cook County found the candidate for governor committed a "scheme to defraud" tax collectors.

“We sought it with all the rules in place. We knew what the rules -- we followed the rules,” Pritzker said.

The inspector general claims the alleged scheme involved tax breaks worth more than $300 thousand dollars.

The inspector general's report says that affidavits filed on behalf of Pritzker and his family misrepresent the date when toilets were actually removed from his Gold Coast mansion, rendering it "uninhabitable."

FOX 32 asked the Democratic nominee about the IG's suggestion that Cook County ought to ask him to repay the $331,000 in tax breaks he received.

“Obviously, we always abide by the law. So, we're gonna follow whatever the recommendations are, whatever it is,” Pritzker said.

While that indicated Pritzker may repay the property tax reductions, that's not good enough for Bruce Rauner, the governor he hopes to unseat next month. His spokesman emailed: "this inspector general report proves ... JB Pritzker is a fraud."

The Sun-Times posted the entire IG report, which was supposed to be confidential, as Hillary Clinton was in town praising Pritzker and running mate Julianna Stratton for their integrity and leadership.

“JB and Julianna have those qualities. And that's what you're looking for,” Clinton said.