Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, demanding records related to a September 2025 “Peacekeeper” program event. The event, held in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, included a photo of Pritzker with Kellen McMiller, a state-funded anti-violence worker who was arrested days later for first-degree murder tied to a fatal “smash-and-grab” robbery at a Michigan Avenue Louis Vuitton store.
At the time of the photo, McMiller reportedly had four outstanding arrest warrants in Florida, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Following his meeting with McMiller and other “Peacekeeper” employees, Governor Pritzker posted on Facebook: “It’s folks like these that we need more of doing the hard work of community violence prevention, not troops on the ground to undermine efforts fighting crime.” Pritzker’s office also featured the photo with McMiller in a press release after the event, but later removed it.
Judicial Watch’s lawsuit, filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, claims the governor’s office failed to respond to a September 22 FOIA request about the event and vetting procedures for “Peacekeeper” employees.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton stated, “Illinois taxpayers deserve transparency on how participants in state-funded anti-violence programs are vetted. The state should prioritize rigorous screening.”