Amid Grooming Allegations, Tom McCullagh Dropping Out Of State Race

JOLIET, IL — Tom McCullagh, who was the subject of a lengthy criminal investigation into allegations of grooming and contributing to the delinquency of a Channahon teenager, has decided to drop out of the race against Republican Michelle Smith, according to his long-time family friend, Joliet crimninal defense attorney Eric J. Blatti.

McCullagh was trying to beat Smith in the June Republican primary to replace retiring state representative Mark Batinick of Plainfield.

This week, Capitol Fax broke the news that that McCullagh was investigated by Channahon police amid allegations that he spent considerable time last summer with a juvenile, allegedly furnishing the minor with a bottle of vodka found by the minor's parents in November.

A source told Patch on Wednesday that McCullagh "will be stepping out of the race."

Also, Wednesday, Joliet's Herald-News reported that McCullagh had indeed dropped out.

On Tuesday, Joliet Patch reported that top state Republican officials were calling for McCullagh to drop out of his race.

McCullagh has not directly responded to any questions from Joliet Patch seeking comment about his political future or the grooming allegations. He repeatedly texted Patch, referring questions to Blatti.

Blatti told Joliet Patch on Wednesday afternoon that McCullagh made the decision on Tuesday to drop out of the state representative's race against Smith.

Blatti said he tried to talk McCullagh out of departing from the race because the allegations were baseless. "It's political, not criminal," Blatti said. "There is no case there."

He said the Channahon police did not attempt to interview McCullagh because the case "didn't reach to that point."

On Wednesday, Channahon Deputy Chief of Police Adam Bogart told Patch criminal charges against McCullagh are not being pursued at this time.

Bogart said the investigation determined that the grooming allegations against McCullagh did not rise to the level of being able to meet the criteria for what's considered a crime by state statute.

A Channahon police report indicated the teenager's family informed police they did not want to pursue the contributing to the delinquency of a minor criminal case against McCullagh.

As of now, Channahon police consider their investigation of McCullagh closed, Bogart said.

Back on March 2, McCullagh issued a news release after Michael Madigan, the former House Speaker and Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, was indicted and charged with 22 counts of “racketeering, conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and extortion offenses.”

McCullagh announced in his news release that, “It is one of my top priorities to root out corruption and usher in a new way of politics in Illinois that respects the people and listens to them. The old way of playing empire using taxpayer money and to further personal interests of politicians needs to end. It is hurting us and our families and has been for a long time.”

“Corruption is a slow poison, it will kill our state and hurt the lives of all Illinois families if we don’t cure ourselves of it.” McCullagh declared.