* Lots of rumors that some top communications staff and at least one (and maybe more) legal staff have resigned or have been pushed out. Legal staff resignations are reportedly unrelated to the comms staff cleanout, which are directly related to the “as a white male” PR disaster. The comms staff rumors started last night, but their “resignations” were delayed for whatever reason..



BREAKING: Multiple Reliable source say FIRINGS tonight in @GovRauner's NEW staff. #twill — Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) August 24, 2017

*** UPDATE 1 *** Pritzker campaign…

Bruce Rauner Goes Full On Trump In Latest Staff Purge New Illinois Policy Institute Staff Last a Mere 37 Days Chicago, IL – In a move straight out of the Trump playbook, Bruce Rauner has reportedly fired his communications team who were just 37 days on the job. The rash move comes after the failed governor had to publicly rebuke his own staff yesterday after they said “as a white male — [Rauner] does not have anything more to add to the discussion” on the racist IPI cartoon. “There is a problem that no amount of staff changes can fix and his name is Bruce Rauner,” said Pritzker communications director Galia Slayen. “This governor has no moral compass, no vision, and no loyalty. Churning through staff faster than we can say Scaramucci is not going to change the fact that Bruce Rauner is entirely incapable of leading this state.”

*** UPDATE 2 *** Rasmussen is not yet confirmed, but sources say her resignation may happen later in the week…

Some reports say Rauner’s chief of staff, Kristina Rasmussen, may be out, but are still not confirmed. Sources tell NBC 5 perhaps Rauner’s entire communications team and his general counsel are all out. Sources confirmed that Diana Rickert, Laurel Patric and Britany Carl, who once compared abortion to Nazi eugenics in a controversial blog post, were all out. It’s believed Rickert wrote the vexing “white male” press release from Tuesday and Patrick sent it out. Former staffers say Rasmussen would have signed off on it. Attempts to reach the Rauner team have been unsuccessful. Whether all were fired or quit is not clear.

*** UPDATE 3 *** I’m hearing the same on comms and sources say that more than Murashko may be out in legal staff…



More shakeups in @GovRauner's office. I'm told Laurel Patrick, Diana Rickert and Brittany Carl are out in aftermath of cartoon backlash. — Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) August 24, 2017 Two anonymous sources say Chief of Staff Kristina Rasmussen and legal counsel Dennis Murashko are out too. Murashko over separate fight. https://t.co/dWZulM6KNt — Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) August 24, 2017

*** UPDATE 4 *** Tina (name used with permission)…

A day after crafting a controversial statement citing Gov. Bruce Rauner’s position as a “white male,” the governor’s new communication staff has been ousted — with more exits on the way, according to multiple sources. Sources said the staffers — hired in July after a staff purge and series of protest resignations — were asked to resign; one was asked to stay but chose to resign. Sources say that includes former Illinois Policy Institute staffer Diana Rickert, who served as the governor’s deputy chief of staff for communications; Laurel Patrick, communications director; Brittany Carl and Meghan Keenan, both communications specialists. A spokeswoman for the lieutenant governor’s office offered no comment on the resignations but said that she would be assisting with media calls.

*** UPDATE 5 *** I’m hearing the Looch has been set loose. Not confirmed yet, though.

*** UPDATE 6 *** If this does happen, he won’t be chief very long. Just sayin…



People close to @GovRauner's team think Deputy Governor Trey Childress could be in line to become next Chief of Staff. https://t.co/LT1wpp0WMy — Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) August 24, 2017

*** UPDATE 7 *** The Looch was, indeed, set loose, according to Mary Ann…