Southern Illinois GOP Chairs, Others Condemn Rep. Kinzinger’s Statements on Trump

Written by Christine Misner

U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL-16th) upset many of his fellow Republicans around the country with the statements he’s made about former President Donald J. Trump in recent weeks. Perhaps none more so than the county chairman of 36 southern Illinois regional Republican Party committees who issued a letter condemning Kinzinger for his actions including calling for the impeachment of President Trump and failing to support the president’s claims of election fraud.

The GOP county chairs voted to issue their condemnation at the Southern Regional Zoom Meeting Jan. 19 but did not release it publicly until Feb. 4. In the statement, they agreed Kinzinger’s acts “should not go unnoticed but rather, should be condemned.” They also stated his “baseless public claims” against President Trump do not represent them “nor largely those that we represent. It has certainly taken its toll on our Country and our Party.”

According to the chairs, Kinzinger, “Refuses to consider claims of Illegality and fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election evidenced by his statement released on January 6, 2021, Representative Kinzinger was dismissive of claims of voter fraud stating ‘the will of the people was made clear—Joseph R. Biden will be the 46th President of the United States {} … our Constitution, was upheld.’”

They further stated, “Adding insult to the appalling injury already felt to the thousands of voters in Southern Illinois that supported President Trump and our beloved Constitution, Representative Kinzinger congratulates Joe Biden on his Inauguration, just days after calling for President Donald Trump’s Impeachment.”

Together the chairs encouraged “One Mind One Strength and No Division.” The group also thanked Trump for his service and wished “the New Administration All the Best.”

In closing, they signified their unity stating, “36 Republican Chairmen/ leaders have echoed their concerns and concurrence from the following counties throughout the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts” across southern Illinois. The counties they represent are: Alexander, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac, Montgomery, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Shelby, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, and Williamson.

Kinzinger is the U.S. Representative for the Illinois 16th Congressional District which covers all or parts of 14 counties which include the cities of Rockford and DeKalb, stretching from state’s northern border to its eastern one.

Kinzinger has received criticism for his actions from many sources. Members of the LaSalle County Republican Central Committee, which is in the 16^th District, voted to censure the Congressman Feb. 3. On Facebook, evangelist Franklin Graham decried Kinzinger and the nine other Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump writing, “It makes you wonder what the thirty pieces of silver were that Speaker Pelosi promised for this betrayal.”

Meanwhile, Kinzinger who attends a non-denominational church in Minooka, told reporters on a conference call reported by Christianity Today he could see and hear a little of the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol from his office. “I’m not one of these people that senses evil all the time or anything,” he noted his feelings at the moment. “It’s probably only happened maybe twice in my life. But I just felt a real darkness over this place, like a real evil.”

Kinzinger shared he felt the event held such implications that he could not stay silent. “I am a person who shares the faith and who looks at what that’s done to the political system in this country, and I decided to speak out.” To that IFA’s David E. Smith wondered out loud, “if he honestly believes that he cannot stay silent in the face of evil, we would like to know where has he been in the fight to end abortion. There is nothing more wicked in our political system than the legal destruction of innocent pre-born human life, and in my opinion, Kinzinger has been AWOL on that front.”

Please support the work of Illinois Family Action.

Click HERE to learn about supporting IFA on a monthly basis.