Springfield, Illinois – In a recent interview on WTAX Morning Newswatch, Republican Illinois Attorney General candidate Bob Fioretti warned that the SAFE‑T Act, championed by incumbent Attorney General Kwame Raoul, has not made Illinois safer. Fioretti argued the law creates a “revolving door of catch‑and‑release,” allowing individuals arrested for crimes to be back on the streets within hours.

Restoring judicial discretion

Fioretti contended that judges currently lack the authority to keep dangerous offenders detained until trial, and he would restore that discretion if elected. He cited numerous cases where released suspects reoffended, saying the current system “doesn’t protect our families.”

Ending wasteful litigation

Another cornerstone of Fioretti’s platform is ending what he calls a “big deal” of lawsuits against the Trump administration. He noted that Raoul has joined 68 lawsuits funded by the Democratic Attorney Generals Association, which contributed $250,000 to the effort. Fioretti argued that most of those actions are filed in other states, cost Illinois taxpayers heavily, and distract from pressing consumer‑fraud and utility‑rate issues that affect everyday families.

“We should be focusing on protecting Illinois consumers from fraudulent schemes and fighting unreasonable electric‑company rate hikes,” Fioretti said. “Spending millions on out‑of‑state legal battles does not serve our citizens.”

Consumer‑protection focus

Fioretti’s campaign office reports a steady stream of complaints about the current AG’s inaction on consumer fraud and the proposed rate increases from electric utilities. He highlighted a recent $82 million settlement negotiated by Raoul’s office with Chicago‑area Nicor Gas, which reduced a 62‑percent rate hike for customers after approval by the Illinois Commerce Commission. While acknowledging the settlement, Fioretti argued that proactive consumer‑protection measures would be more effective than reactive litigation.

Background and independence

Fioretti, a former Chicago alderman, describes himself as “fiercely independent” and a coalition‑builder who was “gerrymandered” out of his ward. He positions himself as a pragmatic reformer who will prioritize public safety, judicial discretion, and fiscal responsibility over partisan legal battles.

Raoul’s campaign declined to comment on Fioretti’s statements.

Original reporting: Capitol City Now (WTAX 1240 Springfield) — read the source article.