Rep. Patrick Windhorst | repwindhorst.com
Rep. Patrick Windhorst | repwindhorst.com
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) is still demanding answers in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans' home that left 36 residents dead.
“I want to echo the call Leader (Jim) Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) made last week asking for a criminal investigation,” Windhorst said during a recent news conference. “I believe the recent investigation and report made public by the Inspector General details the administration's response and lack of response to the outbreak and raises enough questions to trigger that investigation.”
Conducted by the Illinois Department of Human Services, the report found that the lack of a plan and poor leadership contributed to the crisis at LaSalle.
As the virus spread, investigators said staffers operated in an environment that was “inefficient, reactive and chaotic” and that the biggest failures of all trickled down from the top.
Among those whom investigators blamed was Gov. J.B. Pritzker based on his appointment of Linda Chapa La Via as VA director and standing by as she abdicated her responsibilities to a non-medically trained chief of staff.
“I respect greatly the men and women that serve on the front lines of our healthcare industry and realize that the COVID-19 pandemic created a slew of new and ever-changing rules and regulations,” Windhorst said. “Our call for an investigation stems directly from the failure of leadership management and oversight from the Pritzker administration involving the state's response to the outbreak.”
Pritzker’s office has since hired Navy veteran Terry Prince as acting VA director to replace Chapa LaVia.
Windhorst argues further investigation is needed.
“I'm a former prosecutor. I'm also a member of the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee,” he said. “An investigation by law enforcement needs to be initiated to find out if there are criminal liabilities that exist in the lack of preparation for or lack of adequate response to the COVID-19 at LaSalle to answer the questions raised by the OIG report and many more questions like them.”
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