Share
News

Hot Mic Humiliation: Chicago Mayor Caught Calling Police Union Official a 'Clown' During City Council Meeting

Share

Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot found herself in hot water this week when she was caught on a hot microphone bashing a local police union leader under her breath during a City Council meeting.

Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Patrick Murray was present at Wednesday’s meeting to advocate for officers fired by the Chicago Police Board last week after the shooting of Laquan McDonald, according to the Chicago Tribune.

However, as Murray was called to speak during the time allotted for public comment, Lightfoot was picked up by recording equipment live streaming the meeting to her mayoral Facebook account whispering derogatory remarks about the FOP vice president.

“Oh, back again,” Lightfoot said to her corporation counsel Mark Flessner, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

“This is this FOP clown.”

Trending:
Federal Judge Has Bad News for Hunter Biden, Says There's Zero Evidence His Charges Are Politically Motivated

Do you think Lightfoot has ever had respect for the Chicago Police?

According to the outlet, Lightfoot later expressed regret — not for her rude remark or judgment of Murray, but for saying it “out loud” — in a post-meeting news conference.

“It was not appropriate for me to say that out loud,” Lightfoot said.

When pressed by reporters as to whether or not a formal apology would be made, the mayor said she had already made one.

“I think I just did. I think I said I shouldn’t have said that out loud,” she said. “I’m sorry that I said it out loud.”

The damage was already done, however. Chicago police officers were unimpressed with the mayor’s response.

Related:
Blue City Democrats Run into Massive Mail-in Ballot Problem as Thousands Don't Get Counted

The incident comes at a time when trust between officers of CPD and the city’s political establishment is already stressed, particularly in light of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s handling of the Jussie Smollett hate crime controversy earlier this year.

The FOP responded to Lightfoot’s insults hours later in a statement on Facebook, calling the insult “dangerous” in an era when “the city is facing such chronic violent crime” and relies so heavily on its police force.

“Mayor Lightfoot’s contemptuous remark is a misguided and dangerous thing to say to a 30-year veteran police officer and FOP representative, particularly at a time when the city is facing such chronic violent crime. It is also telling that the Mayor would not even apologize,” FOP: Chicago Lodge No. 7 wrote.

According to the Sun-Time, Wednesday’s controversy is also likely to bite Lightfoot later this year when she will have to come to the negotiating table with the police union to discuss terms for a new police contract.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , ,
Share
Andrew J. Sciascia was the supervising editor of features at The Western Journal. Having joined up as a regular contributor of opinion in 2018, he went on to cover the Barrett confirmation and 2020 presidential election for the outlet, regularly co-hosting its video podcast, "WJ Live," as well.
Andrew J. Sciascia was the supervising editor of features at The Western Journal and regularly co-hosted the outlet's video podcast, "WJ Live."

Sciascia first joined up with The Western Journal as a regular contributor of opinion in 2018, before graduating with a degree in criminal justice and political science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper and worked briefly as a political operative with the Massachusetts Republican Party.

He covered the Barrett confirmation and 2020 presidential election for The Western Journal. His work has also appeared in The Daily Caller.




Conversation