CHICAGO _ If Theo Epstein has misgivings about the Ricketts family using Wrigley Field to try to get President Donald Trump re-elected, the Cubs general manager is not letting on.
"I mean it's a venue, right, it's a private venue, and people have the right to host events here, especially the owners," Epstein said Friday during an interview on WSCR-AM 670 with Dan Bernstein and Connor McKnight. "I've hosted events here, too, on the other side of the political spectrum.
"Free society, private venue and I don't think anyone intends any disrespect. This is a venue that is attractive to a lot of groups and as long as it's equal opportunity on all sides, I don't think there's a tremendous argument against it."
The event will take place Saturday when Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and other Republican Party bigwigs are hosting a campaign retreat for donors. The events include a reception at the Cubs office building next to Wrigley Field and at the Cardinals-Cubs game.
Todd Ricketts, a Cubs co-owner and finance chair of the Trump Victory Committee, is a host of the invitation-only event. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, another of the siblings who own the Cubs, will speak throughout the weekend, according to the invitation posted online by Axios.
"Leaving my political leanings out of it," Epstein said on WSCR, "I'll just say I know for a fact that this venue has hosted groups from both sides of the political spectrum, and it probably will continue to do so. This one is getting publicity, but it's not something I give a lot of thought to as long as I know it's balanced on both sides. That's all you can ask for."
Earlier Friday, Epstein declined an opportunity to address the issue during Craig Kimbrel's introductory news conference in response to a question from the Tribune.
"We're here to talk about Craig Kimbrel, the newest Cub, and if you want to grab me about other topics afterward, I'll try to make myself available," he said.
Epstein later said that if time permitted, he'd answer the question via email by Saturday.
