chicagotribune | Mayor Lori Lightfoot and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush on Thursday condemned
images they said depicted Chicago police officers making popcorn,
drinking coffee and sleeping on a couch in the congressman’s campaign
office while nearby businesses were being looted amid unrest nearly two
weeks ago.
The revelation came at an unusual City Hall news conference where the
former political enemies stood united, with Rush praising Lightfoot’s
leadership and the mayor apologizing to the veteran congressman on
behalf of the city.
“That’s a personal embarrassment to me,” Lightfoot said of the scene
that played out inside Rush’s Fuller Park political office. “I’m sorry
that you and your staff even had to deal with this incredible
indignity."
Police brass also ripped the officers’ conduct as “absolutely
indefensible,” saying that at the same time the officers were inside
Rush’s office, others were standing shoulder to shoulder with colleagues
being pelted with rocks.
While the Police Department says it is still piecing together a timeline
and trying to identify the officers, Lightfoot pledged to hold them
accountable for their actions.
“Not one of these officers will be allowed to hide behind the badge and go on and act like nothing ever happened,” she said.
