The City of Chicago has released a video showcasing its "gift room" in an effort to address allegations that Mayor Brandon Johnson improperly accepted valuable gifts and failed to disclose them.
The move comes after a report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) accused Johnson of accepting luxury items—including jewelry, designer handbags, alcohol, and AirPods—without proper documentation, raising serious ethical concerns.
In response, the city has implemented new protocols governing the acceptance and handling of gifts. Effective immediately, all gifts must be reported and logged within 10 days, stored in a designated area, and publicly documented via quarterly video recordings. Additionally, excess gifts must be donated to prevent any perception of misuse.
The first 22-second video log, released Wednesday, featured various items such as artwork, clothing, hats, and shoes—an attempt to dispel claims that the mayor’s office had previously restricted investigators’ access to the room.
However, the controversy is far from over. The OIG report specifically detailed unreported gifts such as Hugo Boss cuff links, a personalized Montblanc pen, a Gucci tote bag, a Kate Spade red purse, and Carrucci size 14 men’s shoes—all received between February 2022 and March 2024.
Notably, while some of these items appear in the video log dated February 11, others, including the tote bag, purse, and shoes, are missing from the written records. Additionally, certain logged items—such as the cuff links and pen—fail to identify the individuals or organizations that provided them.
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg remains highly skeptical of the city's response. She argues that while the video log may offer some level of transparency, it does not substitute for full public accountability. "There are some things visible in the video which are maybe recognizable," Witzburg told Fox News Digital, "but I don’t know that anybody is in a position to look at that video and find the pair of Hugo Boss cuff links or the personalized Montblanc pen. I’m not sure whether it’s intended to."
The inspector general also raised concerns about the lack of donor information on many of the recently logged gifts. "That continues to be really problematic," Witzburg said. "It doesn't suggest to me that, at least in that regard, we've made a lot of progress."
At the heart of the issue is the broader question of government integrity. Witzburg warns that without strict enforcement of ethics rules, Chicago risks reinforcing its long-standing reputation for political corruption. "We can't have a ‘for sale’ sign on the door to City Hall," she stated, emphasizing that gift policies exist to prevent undue influence over government decisions.