* WGN…
A WGN Investigates interview with Cook County’s top judge has caught the attention of the top federal prosecutor in Chicago.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has long been known for its reserved demeanor, but new boss Andrew Boutros has taken a different tact, adopting the tone of the Trump administration.
During a press conference on Thursday announcing 179 arrests in a crackdown on violence, he appeared to threaten reporters with lawsuits in one moment. In another, he offered praise, but also somewhat mischaracterized one of our recent interviews.
“There has been reckless reporting in this room and it’s deeply disappointing and we’ve taken notice,” Boutros said. […]
“Well I asked you to stay on topic, but there has been an incredible amount of reckless reporting in this room…some of it, I don’t want to say it, but it almost rises to the level of violating New York Times vs. Sullivan with the falsity of some of the things that have been presented in the press.”
That’s a reference to a Supreme Court case that said public officials can sue journalists if they intentionally or recklessly publish false information. It seemed to be a threat to prosecute reporters for their coverage of Operation Midway Blitz.
“I will say again: There has been a lot of reckless reporting – including reporting that I think rises to the level of violating NYT vs. Sullivan. I think people in this room know what I mean when I say that, and we’re going to address that at the appropriate time,” Boutros said.
- DS - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 9:43 am:
That is an outrageous thing for a U.S. Attorney to suggest. Resign.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 9:51 am:
Does this clown even understand the case he’s citing, or does he expect to push a test case to revise the “actual malice” standard?
- King Louis XVI - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 10:18 am:
The authoritarianism permeates all levels of the federal government.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 10:42 am:
It’s impossible to imagine a US Attorney keeping his job in any previous administration after making such a statement. With these guys, it’s just another day…
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 10:47 am:
Well, put up or shut up.
Kidding. He’ll follow the lead of his master and talk a mean game, maybe even file suit, then later quietly drop it.
- Bigtwich - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 10:52 am:
There has been reckless prosecuting in that room and it’s deeply disappointing and we’ve taken notice.
- Ohtani rules - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 11:02 am:
This administration, from Trump down, has had very little success with the prosecution of perceived enemies. Even in a universe of your own judges, scurrilous charges brought on flimsy evidence and have failed. Although this administration is pressure testing the very fabric of our justice system, it has held for the most part. It is a bit strange, though, to see channel 7 asking viewers express their support so they can continue broadcasting. The FCC threat against the station is real and that is a scary lurch towards authoritarianism.
- low level - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 11:05 am:
But then all my MAGA peeps are suddenly worried about communism. Boutros behavior is just like the Marxists. Worry about that, “patriots”.
- BE - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 11:09 am:
US Attorney in Illinois announces he does not understand the SAFE-T Act, nor the First Amendment.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 11:23 am:
Terrible and IL govt needs to do what it can to help Illinoisans. Thus, see post “Dems won’t put state money where their mouths are”
- Johnny B - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 11:37 am:
He also lead a federal operation that over the past 60 days has arrested 340 fugitives, charged 179 defendants in 140 criminal cases and recovered 24 children.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 11:48 am:
===He also lead a federal operation===
Yes, and that would be his job.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 11:54 am:
That comment by Boutros might be grounds for discipline.
Sullivan v. NYT was a private lawsuit. Sullivan was public safety commissioner, but he filed a libel suit over his personal reputation.
If Boutros wants to file a libel suit, the courts are open, but he should not be using the resources of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to advance his case.
Just so we’re clear: SCOTUS shot down Sullivan, unanimously.
- Johnny B - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:01 pm:
Of course it’s his job
Why isn’t that successful operation the headline?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:03 pm:
=== Why isn’t that successful operation the headline? ===
When you’re all growed up you can start your own blog.
- Leslie K - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:04 pm:
==It’s impossible to imagine a US Attorney keeping his job in any previous administration after making such a statement. With these guys, it’s just another day…==
Agree
- DOJ Watcher - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:21 pm:
I was willing to give Mr Boutros the benefit of the doubt. He had been an accomplished assistant prosecutor earlier in his career.
I still don’t know when he became aware of the Broadview 6 prosecutorial misconduct. Few of the AUSAs may have gone rogue or been doing that for years or decades.
In any case he’s acting like a petulant jerk.
If he was aware of the prosecutorial misconduct as it was ongoing he needs to resign and face legal discipline.
If not he needs to clean up his office and get back to public corruption cases.
We need stuff to discuss here.
- Bon Moe - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
Where was all this sturm und drang in 2013 when current federal inmate Mike Madigan and his sidekick John Cullerton denied a press gallery pass to Illinois Policy reporters?
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:31 pm:
- denied a press gallery pass to Illinois Policy reporters? -
IPI reporter is an oxymoron. And you are just a moron.
- It's Just a Pill - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:36 pm:
–denied a press gallery pass to Illinois Policy reporters?–
Yep, that’s the same as threatening to jail reporters for reporting facts you don’t like
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:37 pm:
===Where was all this sturm und drang in 2013===
What does that have to do with this?
- CA-HOON! - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:42 pm:
Yeah, I expected this. As soon as he was exposed as merely another Trumpian apparatchik with the Broadview 6 grand jury scandal, of course Boutros is going full-send into abuse-of-office mode.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 12:43 pm:
…Also, the issue at the time was that people who work for registered lobbying entities shouldn’t have access to the House and Senate press boxes.
So, again, what does one have to do with another other than you had to go back 13 years to dredge up one of your old and imagined grievances?
- ChicagoVinny - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 1:49 pm:
These threats just convince me that there’s more misconduct in his office yet to be uncovered.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 1:50 pm:
“===Where was all this sturm und drang in 2013===”
Whataboutism 101 on display.
The fallback for MAGA.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 1:56 pm:
“=== Why isn’t that successful operation the headline? ===”
The “successful operation” where unarmed protestors got tear gassed,dozens of charges got dropped,and the goverment got smacked down in court?
That one??
- Give Us Barabbas - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 2:09 pm:
“ Nice first amendment you have there, sure would be a shame of something was to… happen to it.”
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 2:55 pm:
this guy is on course to keep his job (until rational ones take over) but lose his law license for a while.
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 3:08 pm:
“If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” — George Washington
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Jul 7, 26 @ 4:11 pm:
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees five foundational freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government.
These rights form the bedrock of American democracy, ensuring citizens can express themselves, access information, and hold authorities accountable.