Jacksonville, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A high-ranking member of Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration has been fired over alleged ethics breaches detailed in a new report.

Daniel Thomas, head of the Illinois Office of Tourism, a bureau within the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, was accused of a massive conflict of interest by doing state business with Time Zone One, a company he owned.

Asked about the situation at an economic development event in Jacksonville Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker called it a one-off: “The challenges with the gentleman that was fired by DCEO are ones that will not happen again. The (Illinois) Office of Tourism, frankly, has helped us to enhance tourism all across the state of Illinois. Our numbers have been going up every single year, but that one gentleman broke the rules, broke the law, and he’ll be held accountable.”

The Executive Ethics Commission report includes a letter from Thomas’ lawyer, Jordan Matyas, saying his client is a “scapegoat.” If Matyas’ name is familiar, you may remember him as being a son-in-law of former Illinois House speaker Mike Madigan.

Pritzker was also asked about Gotion, a Chinese-owned company which, in an incentive deal, is building a large battery plant in Manteno. He has taken much Republican fire over the decision, but now we’ve learned Gotion donated $1 million to President Trump.

“We don’t make political decisions for companies in Illinois or anywhere else,” said Pritzker. “They make those decisions on their own. I think it’s ironic – perhaps there are other words to use – that there were people who criticized us bringing 2600 jobs and billions of dollars in investment by this company, and yet those same people are supporters of the President, who has accepted a $1 million contribution from them.”

A chief critic of Pritzker and Gotion, State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), told the Capitol Fax political web site, “Let me know when Donald Trump sends half a billion taxpayer dollars to a company that pledges allegiance to the Chinese communist party-like JB Pritzker did-then we will be concerned.”