Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Friday refused to say whether or not he’ll return the $150,000. Chicago rapper Lil Durk contributed to the mayor’s political committee, a day after the artist was arrested in an alleged murder-for-hire plot.
Johnson recommended he had no speedy plans to return the cash when requested how he would deal with the sizable contribution from Durk Devontay Banks, who rose to fame rapping in Chicago below the title Lil Durk.
“You’re asking me whether or not I ought to move judgment on a black man earlier than a full trial has truly concluded,” the mayor stated at a information convention after visiting Collins High School. “I hope you perceive why it isn’t my place to find out the end result of somebody’s life.”
Banks is a serious contributor to Johnson’s coverage committee.
An organization managed by Banks gave Johnson $150,000 in June 2023 shortly after the rapper met Johnson twice. The large post-election sum was surpassed after Johnson’s election solely by marketing campaign contributions paid by building unions.
Federal authorities arrested Banks, 32, in Florida on Thursday. Prosecutors accused him of directing 5 associates to kill Georgia rapper Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Terrel Bowman, in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Chicago rapper King Von, in accordance with a federal felony grievance unsealed Friday in California.
Also arrested Thursday have been 5 associates of “Only the Family,” often known as OTF, a hip-hop collective based by Banks, King Von’s mentor.
The expenses embrace conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire leading to dying and use of a machine gun in a violent crime leading to dying. The most severe cost can result in the dying penalty if convicted.
On Friday, when requested if he felt he ought to return the cash, Johnson stated: “I do not function on emotions, I function in fact and justice.”
Banks is among the many most profitable drill rappers to return out of Chicago for the reason that style first took maintain. Also popularized by Chief Keef, G Herbo and different artists, drill is characterised by hyperviolent lyrics that usually revolve round — and generally worsen — feuds between gang factions.
In latest years, Banks has sought to change and soften his public picture. Some of the songs on his newest album, launched in May 2023, targeted on the trauma of gun violence. Banks has additionally publicly rejected the crime and publicized her Muslim religion in social media posts.
“Everyone ought to get a second likelihood at life,” he wrote in a September publish on X, previously Twitter. “My background has been cleared and cleared of all circumstances. I’m now not a felony.
In the meantime, he has made a number of appearances with elected officers. Banks appeared alongside former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx at a fundraiser for her youth-oriented nonprofit Neighborhood Heroes Foundation that happened about six months after the alleged crime. The photographs additionally present him sitting subsequent to Foxx throughout a Chicago Sky basketball sport this summer season.
Johnson alluded to that new picture when requested concerning the arrest Friday.
“I do not know all of the circumstances surrounding these allegations, however once more, what I do know for positive is that right here is one other instance of a younger black man rising up with extreme trauma that led him to make life selections that have been very open and speak about therapeutic from these selections,” the mayor stated.
“That is why he’s dedicated to discovering his proper path, in search of fact and justice by means of his religion, whereas additionally investing within the habits and psychological well being assist of people,” he continued.
Banks acquired the “key to the village” in western suburban Broadview from Mayor Katrina Thompson final week.
“Let this key enlighten all of our younger folks,” Thompson advised Banks as he shared the excellence. “We thanks and honor you.”
On Friday, the village revoked the dignity and introduced it was ending its partnership with the rapper’s basis.
“Our public companions should additionally replicate the identical uncompromising requirements our residents demand,” Thompson wrote in a press release.
Banks additionally appeared on the HBO sequence “Hard Knocks” earlier this yr, because the present adopted the Chicago Bears coaching camp.
Before the donation made by means of his firm, The Voice Touring, Durk met with Johnson when he was elected mayor and one other time on Zoom the Friday after he took workplace, in accordance with the mayors’ social media and calendars. The first assembly was described in hip-hop blogs and by podcaster DJ Akademiks in an Instagram publish, main Durk to defend himself in opposition to criticism that he was utilizing the chance to market his subsequent album.
“I’m performed sitting down with the mayor and the politicians, I’m tryna change the image,” he raps in “All My Life,” a Grammy-winning music launched simply days after the primary assembly, earlier than Johnson’s inauguration.
Johnson additionally attended the rapper’s “Financial Literacy Event” with Bank of America and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin’s workplace final August, in addition to a “Lil Durk Holiday Event” in December.
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