Man Accused Of Threatening Elmhurst-Area Lawmaker

ELMHURST, IL – A Chicago man was arrested Saturday in connection with threats against a state legislator whose district includes part of Elmhurst.

Cort Chubko, 59, was arrested on charges of threatening a public official and intimidation, both felonies.

From Feb. 4 to Feb. 12, Chubko commented on and replied to comments on the Facebook page of state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

Chubko is accused of writing that “heavy arms are being moved into and distributed across Dupage County. PEOPLE ARE PAST PISSED and READY TO FIGHT.”

According to the state's attorney, Chubko also wrote "(expletive) is GOING TO get ugly in Dupage County," "This woman and all like her is the reason I own AND CARRY guns," “You know how I respond to fear Conroy? I move a little lever from SAFE to FIRE” and “But know this Conroy and I couldnt be more serious… ALL HELL will come down on you, your staff and your office and your Protection Detail isn’t going to be nearly enough to stop it.”

In a statement, State's Attorney Robert Berlin said that for the government to properly function, public officials must be able to perform their jobs without having to worry about retribution and fear for their personal safety.

"My office stands ready to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone who threatens a public official, their staff or their family," Berlin said.

Chubko, who lives in the 6200 block of South Whipple Street in Chicago, appeared in bond court Saturday morning. His bond was set at $100,000.

In early February, anger against Conroy surged after she introduced a bill that conservative media falsely claimed paved the way for concentration camps.

Conroy's bill, HB 4640, would have required the state health department to share its data with local health agencies. But conservative media said her bill would bring "concentration camps" to quarantine people. Her bill had nothing to do with quarantines.

Illinois Review's claim that the bill would allow for concentration camps relied on the law's existing language about quarantines. It was reported afterward that Conroy was the target of many death threats.

Later, the DuPage Policy Journal joined in the falsehoods by saying the bill would enable health officials to create "Australia- and China-style concentration camps for Illinoisans refusing to take COVID-19 jabs."

Both publications have kept their stories online. The Illinois Review later backed off from the "concentration camp" language in a second story.

Conroy said she introduced the bill at the request of county health department officials.