Candidate Q&A
Why do you want to be Cook County State's Attorney?
Crime in Cook County is out of control and the State’s Attorney’s office has failed the people of Cook County. Kim Foxx abandoned the mission of the office: prosecute crime and bring justice to the victims of crimes.
Why do you believe you are the most qualified candidate?
I have vast experience in every aspect of the law, from the prosecution side in the City of Chicago Corporation Counsel Office and being an Assistant Illinois Attorney General, to freeing the wrongfully convicted and everything in between. I believe this diversity of experience is far superior to either of the Democratic candidates.
Do you think the Cook County State's Attorney’s Office is currently working well, or will you make major changes to the office? Why?
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is a disaster for every person in Cook County except violent criminals. I will make major changes. From day one, Kim Foxx has coddled violent criminals as if they were all Jussie Smollet. That will end on day one of my Administration. I will reverse Foxx’s disastrous policy of ignoring shoplifting, which has literally driven numerous Cook County businesses to close their doors forever. I will treat the possession of illegal guns as the serious crime that it is. If we are serious about getting guns off the street, we MUST get those that possess and brandish them off the street. Also, I will a review of Foxx’s “felony review” process, which nobody seems to be satisfied with.
How do you plan to recruit and retain high-quality prosecutors in light of recent high rates of turnover within the office?
I intend to ask as many of the experienced prosecutors who resigned under Kim Foxx to return as I can. Decades upon decades of experience and institutional knowledge walked out the door over the past eight years as a result of the State’s Attorney not being serious about prosecuting violent crime.
Robberies and thefts are on the rise including carjackings, and car thefts which are up 233% compared with 2019, according to CPD statistics. Does the CCSAO do a good job prosecuting those crimes? Why or why not?
The carjackers and car thieves know the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office does an incredibly poor job prosecuting these crimes. We have seen multiple media reports when carjackers are arrested in collar counties, the criminals laugh at the arresting officers and say, “Don’t worry I’ll be out in a couple of hours,” not realizing that the neighboring counties don’t coddle these violent criminals with the kid gloves of Kim Foxx.
Do you support the elimination of cash bail included in the state’s new SAFE-T Act?
No
Does the elimination of cash bail send a signal that Illinois is soft on crime?
Yes, Yes, obviously. The notion that violent criminals can be allowed to walk the streets in search of their next victim while awaiting trial for their previous violent crimes is a slap in the face of law-abiding citizens and the victims of their crimes. These violent criminals are literally laughing at those who passed this inane law.
What, if any, part of the state’s SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform needs reworking?
The previous bail system needed reforming, not razing. To say the system has only two choices-either be retained or walk free and come or not to come to court at a criminals’ discretion is not tenable, especially when the State’s Attorney and some judges do not take violent crimes as seriously as the people of the County, and particularly the victims of the violent crimes take it.
Will you continue Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s current felony prosecution policy for shoplifting cases (stolen goods must be worth at least $1,000 or a defendant must have 10 prior convictions)?
No, ABSOLUTELY NOT! Foxx’s ill-advised decision to ignore the law has been an unmitigated disaster for business owners, particularly in poor communities. It is literally impossible for mom-and-pop stores in African-American and Latino communities to keep their doors open if the State’s Attorney announces publicly that their merchandise is free game for shoplifters.
If a police officer is a member of a known hate-or-extremist group such as the Proud Boys, should they be barred from testifying in court?
Yes, Hate has no place on a police force, so membership in extremist groups may affect their ability to be a credible witness. But police officers do not lose their First Amendment rights when they join the force. A police officer’s conduct is more telling than their political views. Every case and every police officer’s ability to be a credible witness will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
If a police officer has been brought up on charges of misconduct numerous times, should they be barred from testifying in court after a certain number of complaints?
No, Not automatically. There have always been police officers who do not make ideal witnesses. There is no magic formula to decide. It must be done on a case by case basis.
Will you prosecute people who do not register their assault weapons which is required after the Protect Illinois Communities Act passed and was signed into law?
Yes, I will follow the law as passed by the legislature. I believe it is one of the biggest failures of the current State’s Attorney that she picked which statutes she didn’t like and ignored them. If someone doesn’t like a law, lobby the legislature or run for the legislature. If a person wants to be State’s Attorney, that job requires that the law be followed as passed.
What is your biggest goal if you are elected to lead the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office?
My biggest goal as State’s Attorney will be to return the office to its mission. Follow the law, without fear or favor, prosecute violent criminals to the furthest extent of the law and bring justice to the victims.
