PolitiFact | Illinois

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PolitiFact Illinois is a partnership of the Better Government Association and PolitiFact to help you find the truth in Illinois politics. Reporters and researchers from PolitiFact Illinois examine statements by Illinois elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matters of public importance.

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Better Government Association

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All Fact-checks for Illinois

Jared Moskowitz

stated on March 26, 2023 in an interview on CNN

Former President Donald Trump “instructed all the governors to shut down” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

true

half-true

Marjorie Taylor Greene

stated on February 1, 2023 in a House committee hearing

Illinois “received $5.1 billion at an elementary school there that used it for equity and diversity.”

true

false

Instagram posts

stated on November 8, 2022 in Instagram post

‘No Sharpies on ballots’ permitted for in-person voting in Illinois.

true

false

stated on September 9, 2022 in a Facebook post

Under new Illinois law, these crimes are “nondetainable": “Burglary, robbery, arson, kidnapping, DUI offenses, even DUI involving a fatality, most drug offenses, and even 2nd degree murder.”

true

false

stated on August 15, 2022 in a Facebook post

Rep. Adam Kinzinger “admits Trump won” the 2020 presidential election.

true

false

Instagram posts

stated on July 14, 2022 in an Instagram post

R. Kelly “missing after prison security verify he’s escaped beneath facility.”

true

false

stated on July 5, 2022 in a Facebook post

Shooter in Highland Park, Illinois, “bought the gun illegally.”

true

false

stated on July 4, 2022 in a Facebook post

Images show Highland Park shooter had antifa connection

true

false

stated on July 4, 2022 in a Facebook post

The mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, was a “false flag.”

true

pants-fire

Marjorie Taylor Greene

stated on July 5, 2022 in a tweet

Says an image shows the Highland Park shooting suspect "in jail or rehab or a psychiatric center" before the shooting.

true

false

stated on May 31, 2022 in a Facebook post

Illinois high school to implement race-based grading system in 2022-2023 school year

true

false

stated on May 25, 2022 in a press conference

"We need to realize that people who think that ‘well, maybe if we could just implement tougher gun laws, it’s going to solve it,’ Chicago and LA and New York disprove that thesis."

true

barely-true

stated on April 11, 2022 in in a campaign advertisement

We’ve reduced crime to its lowest level in 27 years.

true

true

stated on April 8, 2022 in a tweet

The Biden Administration is engaging in extreme ‘woke’ politics by encouraging children to take chemical castration drugs and undergo surgeries, and they are lying to children by telling them puberty blockers are "reversible."

true

false

Tammy Duckworth

stated on March 15, 2022 in a tweet

“An extra 2 whole months and 15 days. That’s how long it takes for white women to make the same amount men made in the same job last year. And it's even worse for women of color.”

true

barely-true

stated on February 20, 2022 in a tweet

"In my first year in office, Aurora homicides went down by 40%."

true

barely-true

stated on February 9, 2022 in a press conference

"There is absolutely no observed or clinical data that indicates any benefit whatsoever to masking K-12 students in schools."

true

barely-true

stated on February 2, 2022 in the 2022 State of the State address.

“A larger percentage of Illinoisans have been vaccinated than in any other Midwestern state.”

true

mostly-true

stated on December 31, 2021 in a year-end press release.

"Chicago maintained the lowest unemployment rate through most of 2021 of any large American city."

true

false

stated on October 23, 2021 in a tweet

The migrant caravan from Tapachula, Mexico “is the population of Minneapolis.”

true

pants-fire

What Illinois’ ‘red flag’ gun law means after the Highland Park shooting

What Illinois’ ‘red flag’ gun law means after the Highland Park shooting

By Hana Stepnick • July 12, 2022

Poll workers are short-staffed, under attack — and quietly defending democracy

Poll workers are short-staffed, under attack — and quietly defending democracy

By Amy Sherman • July 6, 2022

Ask PolitiFact: What are red flag gun laws and do they keep people safe?

Ask PolitiFact: What are red flag gun laws and do they keep people safe?

By Amy Sherman • June 10, 2022

Kamala Harris jumped to conclusions about Abraham Lincoln’s delayed Supreme Court nomination

Kamala Harris jumped to conclusions about Abraham Lincoln’s delayed Supreme Court nomination

By Louis Jacobson • October 8, 2020

Pritzker’s capital spending claim raises questions though parts track with past practices

Pritzker’s capital spending claim raises questions though parts track with past practices

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • July 14, 2019

Fact-checking the resume-driven Chicago mayor's race

Fact-checking the resume-driven Chicago mayor's race

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • February 24, 2019

Rauner blames Democrats for decades of bipartisan can-kicking

Rauner blames Democrats for decades of bipartisan can-kicking

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • December 9, 2018

The 2019 Chicago mayor’s race is heating up: Here’s what we’re watching

The 2019 Chicago mayor’s race is heating up: Here’s what we’re watching

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • November 11, 2018

Fact-checking the fact-challenged candidates for Illinois governor

Fact-checking the fact-challenged candidates for Illinois governor

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • November 4, 2018

Rauner, Pritzker tax disclosures rich in avoidance

Rauner, Pritzker tax disclosures rich in avoidance

By Bob Secter • October 21, 2018

“Boys, boys!”: Repetition doesn’t improve Rauner, Pritzker sniping

“Boys, boys!”: Repetition doesn’t improve Rauner, Pritzker sniping

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • October 14, 2018

Rauner corrupts the word ‘corrupt’

Rauner corrupts the word ‘corrupt’

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • August 19, 2018

Rauner, Pritzker shun transparency even when it might help

Rauner, Pritzker shun transparency even when it might help

By Bob Secter • July 22, 2018

Oh, the Humanity! Rahm Emanuel, a preschool teacher?

Oh, the Humanity! Rahm Emanuel, a preschool teacher?

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • June 11, 2018

Vallas, Emanuel point fingers over Chicago teacher pension freefall

Vallas, Emanuel point fingers over Chicago teacher pension freefall

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • May 14, 2018

When it comes to Illinois’ deficit, how bad is bad?

When it comes to Illinois’ deficit, how bad is bad?

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • April 3, 2018

Wealthy Illinois candidates face tax disclosure minefield

Wealthy Illinois candidates face tax disclosure minefield

By Matt Dietrich • November 21, 2017

Sorry Illinois politicians, PolitiFact is back

Sorry Illinois politicians, PolitiFact is back

By Bob Secter • August 1, 2017

Tammy Duckworth pega a Mark Kirk por sus logros militares

Tammy Duckworth pega a Mark Kirk por sus logros militares

By Matt Dietrich • November 7, 2016

Hillary Clinton correctamente dice: Torre Trump en parte construida por trabajadores indocumentados

Hillary Clinton correctamente dice: Torre Trump en parte construida por trabajadores indocumentados

By Linda Qiu • November 2, 2016