SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Republican state senators at the state capitol building Thursday demanded that Illinois Department of Corrections Director Latoya Hughes be removed immediately.
GOP members criticized the IDOC director for the death of inmates under her leadership. State Sen. Jason Plummer said it is a "blessing that no staffers have died."
"She couldn't even tell us how many inmates have died this year," Plummer said.
During Hughes reappointment hearing, Plummer went back and forth with the director on issues surrounding staff safety, lockdown capabilities, synthetic drugs and the law that stops corrections staff from assisting federal ICE agents.
On the topic of synthetic drugs, Hughes said a lot of correction facilities have moved away from mail. Most facilities in Illinois use electric tablets to potentially stop drugs like fentanyl being transported by mail.
"The process is very much underway there's still about ten facilities that remain for the tablets to be rolled out," Hughes said.
Alongside Plummer in a press conference was state Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). She urged the importance of keeping synthetic drugs out of correction facilities to keep the "staff and inmates safe."
At the press conference, Plummer said there's only one person who can change the director.
"His name is J.B. Pritzker, he's on the second floor and his inability to manage government shocks me and this is just another example," Plummer said.
WAND news has requested a statement from Governor J.B. Pritzker on the Republican's comments.
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