Rauner: Details On Overseas Trip Coming Soon
Gov. Bruce Rauner talking with Douglas County EMA Director Joseph Victor in Villa Grove on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. Jeff Bossert/Illinois Public Media
Governor Bruce Rauner says he’ll provide details soon about where he went during the Christmas holiday.
Rauner left the country the weekend of December 20, but his staff wouldn’t disclose where the governor went. Groups including the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform raised concerns about the lack of detail, following Rauner’s campaign pledges of transparency.
The governor says the reason for the secrecy is that two of his children are currently living overseas
“And we wanted to spend some of the Christmas holiday time with them," he said. "When they return, and they’ll be back soon, we’ll discuss where they are. Our children are private, they are not public officials, and their safety and their privacy is important to my wife and me. So while they’re there, we’re not discussing where they are, when they come back, I’ll talk about it.”
The governor returned early from his trip last week to survey flood damage in Central and Southern Illinois.
Rauner spoke Sunday in the Douglas County town of Villa Grove, the last stop on a 3-day tour of flood-affected areas.
UPDATE: The Associated Press reports Rauner spent his nearly two-week holiday vacation in Spain and Morocco. Rauner said Monday he didn't publicly disclose where he was traveling because of concern for his six children.
The governor says "I don't want it around the Internet where my kids are.'' Rauner says he paid for the vacation himself and didn't take taxpayer-funded security.
He says the family rode camels in the Sahara desert and slept in tents.