JB Pritzker Hides Photo of Himself Posing with a Felon Wanted in Four States [WATCH]

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is facing renewed scrutiny after a photo surfaced of him alongside a man later implicated in a fatal robbery case.

The image was taken during one of Pritzker’s promotional events for the SAFE-T Act, legislation signed into law in 2021 that made Illinois the first state to fully eliminate cash bail for nearly all offenses.

The SAFE-T Act, officially titled the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, included provisions to end cash bail, reduce mandatory minimum sentences, alter supervised release requirements, and expand opportunities for pretrial release.

Six days before a crash-and-grab in Chicago killed 40-year-old Mark Arceta, accused burglar Kellen McMiller posed with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker at a “peacekeeper” event—despite active warrants in four states. McMiller now faces murder, burglary, and theft charges. (CWB) pic.twitter.com/eZ0NztlqMx

— NTC Feed (@NTC_Feed) September 18, 2025

Supporters said it would create a fairer justice system, while critics warned it weakened law enforcement and increased risks to public safety.

During one of his community stops promoting anti-violence initiatives, Pritzker was photographed with 24-year-old Kellen McMiller, who was wearing a “peacekeeper” vest distributed by a Chicago violence intervention program.

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At the time the photo was taken, McMiller was wanted in four states on multiple outstanding warrants.

Six days later, McMiller and several accomplices carried out a “smash and grab” robbery along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

During the getaway, McMiller’s vehicle collided with another car driven by 29-year-old Mark Aceta, who was killed in the crash.

Aceta’s girlfriend gave birth to their son the following day.

McMiller and six others now face charges including burglary and felony murder in connection with Aceta’s death.

Man who Dem Governor JB Pritzker posed for a photo with earlier this month at a “Peacekeeper” event, charged with murder.

You can’t make this up.

35-year-old Kellen McMiller was involved in a “highly orchestrated smash-and-grab burglary” at a Louis Vuitton store, which left an… pic.twitter.com/uGdyDLKjcK

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 19, 2025

After the charges became public, Pritzker’s office removed the photo from its official website and issued a statement.

“The Governor meets hundreds of people in communities every week and is often asked to take photos,” a spokesperson said.

“We were extremely troubled to learn that this individual was arrested for his alleged involvement in this serious crime, and we expect them to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The Governor will keep doing everything in his power to fight crime, keep our neighborhoods safe, and support community violence intervention, which have been proven to work. For example, the Peacekeepers Program has a strong track record reducing violent crime by 41% over the past two years and providing community members with a path towards rehabilitation.”

The Peacekeepers Program, operated by the anti-violence organization Chicago CRED, defended its model in a separate statement, noting that many of its participants are “justice-involved individuals who have experienced severe violence-related trauma.”

The group said its network currently employs approximately 1,300 workers across 31 Chicago neighborhoods and nine Cook County suburbs.

“Because many of them are justice-involved individuals who have experienced severe violence-related trauma, they sometimes make poor choices that can lead to tragic consequences. With that in mind, we are constantly enhancing our screening practices and additional supports,” the group said.

Illinois Republicans sharply criticized both the governor’s handling of the situation and his broader approach to public safety.

State GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said in a statement that Pritzker “can continue to grandstand about President [Donald] Trump’s initiatives to tackle crime in cities, but he is proving President Trump right everyday with the show of complete incompetence he puts on display.”

Salvi added, “Gov. Pritzker would rather do a photo op with fugitives to bolster his leftist bona fides than do the work it takes to even figure out if his previous anti-violence programs he’s funding … are being co-opted by law breakers.”

The controversy comes as Pritzker has been floated as a possible Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential election.

Analysts note that the photo, and its connection to the SAFE-T Act, could be used by political opponents as a focal point in future campaigns.

The SAFE-T Act itself remains a contentious piece of legislation, with supporters citing reductions in jail populations and opponents pointing to high-profile crimes involving repeat offenders.

The photo with McMiller is expected to feature prominently in political debates over Pritzker’s policies and his potential national ambitions.

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