Former Biden Official Criticizes Illinois Leaders' Responses to College Student's Murder

Yemisi Egbewole says Pritzker and Johnson failed to properly address the tragedy of Sheridan Gorman's death.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:35pm

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Former Biden White House adviser Yemisi Egbewole 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 gave an appropriate statement, but then politicized the tragedy, while Johnson failed to respond sympathetically to Gorman's family.

Why it matters

The murder of Sheridan Gorman has become a politically charged issue, with Pritzker and Johnson facing criticism for their handling of the case and its aftermath. Egbewole's comments highlight the ongoing tensions between political leaders and their responses to high-profile crimes.

The details

Gorman, a college freshman, was allegedly shot and killed near the Loyola University campus by Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national who had been released twice by the Biden administration in 2023. Pritzker's office initially called the murder 'senseless' and said they anticipated the accused would face accountability, but the governor later blamed 'national failures' and former President Trump. Johnson, meanwhile, described the killing as a 'tragedy' but said it would not deter his approach to governing.

  • Gorman was allegedly murdered on Thursday near the Loyola University campus.
  • Pritzker commented on the case on Tuesday, placing blame on 'national failures' and the Trump administration.
  • Johnson addressed the killing on Wednesday, standing in front of a snowplow named 'Abolish ICE'.

The players

Yemisi Egbewole

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

JB Pritzker

The Democratic governor of Illinois who initially called Gorman's murder 'senseless' but later politicized the tragedy.

Brandon Johnson

The Democratic mayor of Chicago who described Gorman's killing as a 'tragedy' but said it would not deter his approach to governing.

Jose Medina-Medina

The Venezuelan national accused of shooting and killing Sheridan Gorman near the Loyola University campus.

Sheridan Gorman

The college freshman who was allegedly murdered near the Loyola University campus.

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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

“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

Pritzker's office has indicated they anticipate the accused killer will face accountability, but the ongoing political tensions around the case suggest further developments are likely.

The takeaway

The murder of Sheridan Gorman has become a politically charged issue, with Pritzker and Johnson facing criticism for their handling of the case and its aftermath. This highlights the challenges political leaders face in addressing high-profile crimes while navigating complex political dynamics.