The GOP billionaire behind the biggest political gift in U.S. history could be sued for allegedly fueling a Chicago rat infestation
A city document says Barre Seid has paid workers for three years to scatter nuts in Lincoln Park, but officials say it draws rats.
Chicago officials are considering legal action against Barre Seid, a billionaire industrialist and major political donor, over allegations that his workers feeding nuts in Lincoln Park are contributing to a rat infestation, according to reports from multiple sources. Alderman Timmy Knudsen has urged the Chicago Park District to sue Seid for damages to the park, while Park District officials are still evaluating their options.
An August 25 letter from Knudsen to Seid served as a final warning, citing photos and videos showing Seid and his staff daily feeding wildlife, which has created a public health hazard by attracting rats, pigeons and other animals, according to multiple sources. Seid, who made his fortune through Tripp Lite, a Chicago-based manufacturer, transferred the company to a dark money group in 2020 and later sold it to Eaton for $1.65 billion, allegedly avoiding up to $400 million in taxes, according to ProPublica.
Seid is known for significant political donations to the Republican National Committee and the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based think tank that disputes climate science, according to ProPublica. Despite multiple warnings and citations from the city, Seid has continued the feeding, and taxpayers may now face the cost of repairs, according to city documents.
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