Mayor Emanuel said Tuesday he does not believe the Justice Department’s investigation into the Chicago Police Department should be broadened to include the city's law department.
The mayor's statements come after a federal judge accused a top lawyer for the city of hiding evidence in a fatal police shooting. U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang also dismissed a jury’s findings that the shooting of Darius Pinex in 2011 was justified, ordered a new trial and the city to pay attorney’s fees to the plaintiff.
Jordan Marsh, a senior city Corporation counsel, resigned after the judge's accusation.
On Tuesday, Emanuel echoed his “zero tolerance” policy for city employees who do not hold the highest professional standards, "especially an individual representing the city in a courtroom."
When asked if the Law Department’s handling of lethal force cases should also be probed, Emanuel said said "No, I think that [federal investigators] are working where they are."
Emanuel added that "[Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton] has my support to make sure that this doesn't happen again."
"I think there's an opportunity to take steps that for whatever reason have not been taken before," Patton said in regards to the case.
However, Congressman Danny Davis favors the feds including the law department.
"I would think the justice department should take a look, and would want to take a look how these things happen," Davis said.
Emanuel has been criticized for the city’s handling of the Laquan McDonald case ever since the dashcam video showing the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old was released.
On Monday, Governor Bruce Rauner said he would sign a bill allowing the recall of Emanuel.
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"I'm broadly supportive of the recall concept in general for all elected officials," he said.
