Illinois Sen. Willie Preston Calls for Investigation After Jackson Campaign Claims Tied to Joliet Explosion (Chicago, IL) – Illinois Sen. Willie Preston on Saturday called for a full investigation after fellow 2nd Congressional District candidate Jesse Jackson Jr. claimed that a Joliet printing plant explosion destroyed campaign signs, mailers and other political materials.
The explosion occurred Thursday at Union Signs, a printing facility in Joliet. No injuries were immediately reported, and the cause of the blast has not yet been publicly determined.
Jackson, a former U.S. representative who previously served time in federal prison for misusing campaign funds, said in an Instagram post Friday that several of his campaign materials were among those damaged or destroyed in the explosion. He described the items as “casualties” of the incident.
Preston, who chairs the Illinois Senate Black Legislative Caucus, said the claims warrant scrutiny and called on state and federal authorities to examine the matter to ensure there was no broader wrongdoing connected to the incident.
In a statement, Preston said an investigation is necessary to clarify the circumstances surrounding the explosion and to determine whether any improper activity occurred.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any campaign materials were affected, and no evidence has been publicly presented linking the explosion to political activity. Investigations into the cause of the blast remain ongoing.
Illinois Sen. Willie Preston Calls for Investigation After Jackson Campaign Claims Tied to Joliet Explosion
