Top Preckwinkle Adviser Apologizes for Facebook Post Comparing Lightfoot to Nazis

Scott Cisek posted Thursday on Facebook a photo suggesting Lori Lightfoot was like the Nazis at the Nuremberg trials

In the final days of the Chicago mayor’s race the tensions are rising on social media.

Toni Preckwinkle’s top political adviser Scott Cisek posted Thursday on Facebook a photo suggesting Lori Lightfoot was like the Nazis at the Nuremberg trials. The post was in response to Lightfoot's explanation for an event during her years at the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The first mayoral campaign to criticize Cisek was Amara Enyia’s; her spokesman issued a statement saying “the foolishness from Toni Preckwinkle’s senior adviser is a testament to the values and character of her campaign. This is the latest in a long history of problematic behavior from several of Preckwinkle’s closest advisers. Does she condone this kind of behavior and attitude?”

Gery Chico also weighed in “today, Toni Preckwinkle’s top aide showed poor judgment that crossed a very serious line, and it’s just more evidence that Preckwinkle and her staff have no place on the fifth floor.”

Susana Mendoza called for an apology to Lightfoot, writing "there's no place for this kind of rhetoric in any civilized discourse." 

Several hours later Cisek deleted the original Facebook post saying “I apologize for my Facebook comment. It was a stupid comment and I took it down.”

https://twitter.com/secisek/status/1098735371855245314

Lightfoot isssued a statement saying “Politics is a tough business; I knew that before I jumped in. But it is disturbing to me that a mayoral candidate’s top adviser believes the genocide of millions of people is a casual enough subject to be used as a joke to settle a political argument. Take note of those that surround the people we expect to lead.”

Just before midnight Thursday, Preckwinkle announced Cisek is "no longer affiliated" with her campaign in "any capacity."

"His recent social media post was unconscionable and showed insensitivity to the issue of anti-semitism," she said in a statement. "It does not reflect my values or the values of my campaign. I apologize to Lori Lightfoot and everyone who was offended by this insensitive comment."

This is the second time this week that Preckwinkle’s campaign has targeted Lightfoot.

Rep. Robert Martwick, a Preckwinkle supporter, crashed a Lightfoot press conference to complain about her criticism for his proposal to appoint the Cook County assessor rather than elect him.

All of this attention between the Preckwinkle campaign on Lightfoot suggests perhaps the perceived frontrunner Preckwinkle is feeling threatened.

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