Sex Offender Funds GOP Candidate | Chicago News

A registered sex offender convicted in the early 2000s for abusing a student he taught has donated nearly $1,100 to Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s campaign — sparking outrage and raising serious questions about donor vetting. Barr, now a pastor at a Rockford church where Bailey recently attended services, says his support is rooted in shared Christian values. Bailey’s team claims they were unaware of Barr’s past and plan to return the funds to charity. The church’s pastor defends Barr as a redeemed member with no youth ministry involvement, while critics demand accountability. This scandal exposes a troubling loophole: no law bars sex offenders from political contributions — but many campaigns would avoid such donors if they knew their history. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bac915225038cda6