Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson answers questions about $150,000 in campaign donations from ‘Lil Durk’ Banks after the rapper’s arrest

CHICAGO (Wales) — Mayor Brandon Johnson is responding Friday to questions about his connection to the Grammy Award-winning Chicago rapper charged in a murder-for-hire conspiracy.

Lil Durkwhose real name is Durk Banks, made a $150,000 campaign donation to Mayor Johnson shortly after Johnson took office last year.

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It remains unclear what Johnson plans to do with this money.

Johnson faced scrutiny on Friday amid media reports about his connection to Banks.

The mayor said he knows few details about the murder-for-hire criminals Lil Durk is currently facing, but noted the rapper’s philanthropic work in the city.

“Lil Durk’s mission to build financial literacy for city kids and make other critical investments for city kids was at his heart,” Johnson said.

The rapper runs a Chicago-based charity called Neighborhood Heroes, but he also runs a music label.

In June 2023, The Voice Touring LLC, which lists Banks as a manager, donated $150,000 to Mayor Johnson’s campaign, according to state records.

When asked if he should donate the money to charity, Johnson said: “I don’t act out of emotion, you know, I act with integrity and fairness. And I don’t know all the circumstances around these accusations.”

When pressed about the bank’s donation, the mayor delayed once again.

“If you are asking me whether I should pass judgment on a black man before a full trial has concluded, I hope you understand why it is not my place to determine the outcome of someone’s life,” Johnson said. .

Through his charitable work, Banks connected with many prominent people in Chicago and elsewhere.

ABC7 legal analyst Gil Soffer said no one should jump to conclusions.

“We are a long way from determining whether there was any wrongdoing by political officials. More than likely this case focuses on this violent crime that is charged, and everything else is just noise,” Soffer said.

When pressed on the idea of ​​hiding the donation, Johnson interrupted ABC7 Chicago’s Craig Wall and moved on to another question.