Former Biden Aide Criticizes Illinois Leaders' Responses to Sheridan Gorman Murder

Yemisi Egbewole says Pritzker and Johnson failed to properly address the tragedy

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:23pm

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Yemisi Egbewole, a former adviser in the Biden White House, criticized Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for their responses to the murder of college freshman Sheridan Gorman. Egbewole said Pritzker's office initially issued a good statement, but then politicized the tragedy, while Johnson failed to respond sympathetically to Gorman's family.

Why it matters

The murder of Sheridan Gorman, allegedly by an illegal immigrant released twice under the Biden administration, has become a politically charged issue. Egbewole's criticism of the Democratic leaders' responses highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration policy and public safety.

The details

Pritzker's office said Gorman's murder was 'senseless' and they expected the alleged killer to face accountability, but then criticized the Trump administration for 'politicizing heinous tragedies' instead of prioritizing solving violent crime. Johnson called the killing a 'tragedy' while standing in front of a snowplow named 'Abolish ICE', reflecting criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

  • Gorman was allegedly murdered by Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national, on Thursday near the Loyola University campus as she attempted to flee.
  • Pritzker and Johnson made their comments on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, in the aftermath of the killing.

The players

Yemisi Egbewole

A former adviser in the Biden White House who criticized the responses of Illinois leaders to Sheridan Gorman's murder.

JB Pritzker

The Democratic governor of Illinois who initially issued a statement on Gorman's murder but then politicized the tragedy.

Brandon Johnson

The Democratic mayor of Chicago who failed to respond sympathetically to Gorman's family, according to Egbewole.

Jose Medina-Medina

The Venezuelan national allegedly responsible for Sheridan Gorman's murder.

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What they’re saying

“I think that the governor's office — JB Pritzker — did a great job with his statement, calling it senseless outright, and hoping the accused goes to jail. I do think the tone, however, shifts when he brings it up in the political context.”

— Yemisi Egbewole, Former Biden White House Adviser

“I'm going to continue to use every single tool that's available to me to protect the residents of the city of Chicago. This tragedy is not going to deter us from our work. In fact, it's going to challenge us all to double down on our efforts to ensure that we are protecting every single individual across neighborhoods.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

What’s next

The alleged killer, Jose Medina-Medina, is expected to face charges for Sheridan Gorman's murder.

The takeaway

The Sheridan Gorman murder has become a politically charged issue, with former Biden aide Yemisi Egbewole criticizing Illinois leaders for failing to properly address the tragedy and instead using it for political gain. This highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration policy and public safety.