JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION OF OFFICERS WITH EXTREMIST TIES MATERIALLY DEFICIENT FROM CURE IS MOST OF THE DEALS THAT ALL OF YOU IN THE PUBLIC HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT.

AND TRANSIT LEADERS PUSHED BACK AT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED MERGER.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER IS TELLING REPORTERS HE TO STANDS BEHIND PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO SERVE AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT.

BUT HE AGREES IT IS FAIR FOR SOME, INCLUDING THE MEDIA TO QUESTION BIDEN'S ABILITY TO COMPLETE THE RACE.

SURE.

I THINK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN, I'VE SAID THIS, HE NEEDS TO GO OUT THERE AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS AND HE NEEDS TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT HE IS THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD.

AND THEN HE'S DOING A HECK OF A JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THE UNITED STATES IS LEADING US AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ENEMIES IN THE WORLD AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE A TOUGH, STRONG, SMART AND PRINCIPLED LEADER.

AND THAT'S WHAT JOE BIDEN TO SEE THAT.

MEANWHILE, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE ARRIVING BACK IN DC ON THE AGENDA, PRIVATE MEETINGS AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WHILE SOME PARTY LEADERS HAVE SAID THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BIDEN TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY IS DOUBLING DOWN TODAY ON HIS STANCE THAT IT'S TIME FOR BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE.

YOU KNOW, FIGHTING SPIRIT PRIDE COURAGE SERVE THE COUNTRY SO WELL.

4 YEARS AGO, JOE BIDEN, WHEN NUMBER.

WELL GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN THIS TIME, JUST ASKED STEP DOWN.

IT CAN'T WIN MY COLLEAGUES NEED RECOGNIZE DISMISSIVE LATTER.

NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANY MINDS.

QUICKLY IS REFERRING TO THE LETTER THAT BIDEN SENT TO CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS EXPRESSING HIS PLANS TO STAY IN THE RACE.

AND OF COURSE, THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION HAPPENS IN MILWAUKEE NEXT WEEK.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WILL HAVE A LOOK AHEAD AT THAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

CONVICTED FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE CITY PENSION WAS YANKED JUST MINUTES AFTER HIS SENTENCING, ACCORDING TO RECORDS OBTAINED BY W T TW NEWS, THE PENSION FUND'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TIFFANY JENKINS DIRECTED HER STAFF TO STOP BERKS $8,000 A MONTH PENSION PAYMENT.

JUST 30 MINUTES AFTER HIS SENTENCING.

BOURKE WAS SENTENCED LAST MONTH TO 2 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER BEING CONVICTED ON FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES.

HE'S SCHEDULED TO REPORT TO PRISON IN SEPTEMBER.

THE 4 FORMER COMMENT EXECUTIVES CONVICTED OF CONSPIRING TO BRIBE MICHAEL MADIGAN WILL ASK A FEDERAL JUDGE TO TOSS OUT THEIR CONVICTIONS CITING A RECENT RULING FROM THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN A 6 TO 3 DECISION LAST MONTH.

THE COURT REDEFINED THE FEDERAL BRIBERY STATUTE TO MEAN THAT WE'RE 2 OF THESE ARE PAYMENTS MADE IN RECOGNITION OF ACTIONS ALREADY TAKEN BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WITHOUT A QUID PRO QUO AGREEMENT IN PLACE ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THAT LAW.

ATTORNEYS FOR THE SO-CALLED COMMENT FOR ARGUE THE RULING WOULD REQUIRE THEIR 2023 CONVICTIONS TO BE TOSSED OUT IN FAVOR OF A NEW TRIAL.

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARGUE THE CHARGES IN THIS CASE REMAIN UNCHANGED AND A NEW TRIAL, THEREFORE ISN'T NECESSARY.

UP NEXT, ONE ON ONE WITH THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL ABOUT HER DEMANDS TO LOOK INTO OFFICERS WITH EXTREMIST TIES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND CAME MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MOST RECENT INVESTIGATION INTO OFFICERS WITH TIES TO A FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUP WAS, QUOTE, MATERIALLY DEFICIENT.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO CHICAGO INSPECTOR GENERAL TEMPER, WHICH BURGE WHO ASKED THAT INVESTIGATIONS INTO 8 OFFICERS WITH TIES TO THE FAR-RIGHT GROUP.

THE OATH KEEPERS BE REOPENED, BUT CPD LEADERSHIP HAS REJECTED HER REQUEST.

JOINING US NOW TO TELL US MORE IS CHICAGO INSPECTOR GENERAL DENVER.

WHAT'S FOR WELCOME BACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

YOUR REPORT FOUND THAT THE CPS INVESTIGATION OF OFFICERS WITH TIES TO FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUPS CONDUCTED BY THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, AS WE SAID, WAS, QUOTE, MATERIALLY DEFICIENT.

WHAT WERE THE WAYS THAT YOU THINK THE INVESTIGATION CAME UP SHORT?

WE HAVE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO REVIEW THESE INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS ONCE THEY'RE COMPLETE.

AND IF WE FIND THAT THERE ARE DEFICIENCIES MATERIALLY AFFECTING THE OUTCOME, THAT'S THE STANDARD SET OUT IN THE LONG WE CAN RECOMMEND THAT THOSE INVESTIGATIONS BE REOPENED.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

SO WE LOOKED AT THIS INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT 8 CPD MEMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OATH KEEPERS, THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION DID.

REVEAL EVIDENCE THAT ALL 8 ACCUSED MEMBERS HAD AT SOME POINT ASSOCIATED WITH THE OATH KEEPERS.

NONETHELESS, CPD FOUND NO MISCONDUCT.

WE FOUND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DEFICIENCIES WHICH WE BELIEVE RISE TO THAT LEVEL OF MATERIALLY AFFECTING THE OUTCOME, INCLUDING THE INADEQUACY OF CERTAIN INVESTIGATIVE STEPS, IMPROPER INTERVIEWS WHERE ATTORNEYS FOR THE ACCUSED OFFICERS WERE ALLOWED INTERFERE WITH THE INTERVIEWS AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE FOUND THE SAME MATERIAL DEFICIENCY HERE THAT WE FOUND IN OTHER CPD INVESTIGATIONS WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE ANALYSIS OF WEATHER ASSOCIATION WITH THE OATH KEEPERS CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF CPS RULES OF CONDUCT.

THEY'D OFFICERS WHO ARE ACCUSED OF BELONGING TO THE OATH KEEPERS, MEMBERS OF ATTACKED THE CAPITOL, THE U.S. CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6.

WE ALL KNOW WE'RE ONLY INTERVIEWED ON AVERAGE FOR LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR ON AVERAGE LONGEST INTERVIEW WAS 48 MINUTES.

WHAT'S THAT TELL YOU?

THAT THIS IS A DEFICIENT THIS IS NOT AN INVESTIGATION WHICH LIVES UP TO THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY.

THAT FAILURE TO LIVE UP TO COMMITMENTS IS I THINK SOMETHING WE CODE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHEN IN A SEPARATE PRODUCT THAT WE PUBLISH TODAY, WE RECOMMENDED THAT THE MAYOR CONVENE A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE EXTREMISM IN THE POLICE RANKS.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REITERATED COMMITMENT HE HAS MADE TO DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE BUT DECLINED TO TAKE ANY SPECIFIC STEPS.

DO YOU SUSPECT OR DO HAVE THAT THE THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S OWN INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, THE BIA THAT THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN THOSE INVESTIGATIONS THAT GO BEYOND WHETHER OR NOT MEMBERS HAVE TIES TO GROUPS SUCH AS THESE.

WHENEVER THERE ARE ISSUES OF INVESTIGATIVE QUALITY, THAT'S A VERY TROUBLING THING.

BOTH MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ENTITLED TO A POLICE DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM IN WHICH EVERYONE HAS REASON TO BE CONFIDENT AND WHEREVER WE SEE ISSUES OF INVESTIGATIVE QUALITY, WE OUGHT TO TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

THE STAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH.

IF THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE SERIOUS ABOUT FOSTERING PUBLIC TRUST, WE SIMPLY HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT.

WE CANNOT ASK PEOPLE TO TRUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHOSE MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO DABBLE IN HATRED AND EXTREMISM?

WELL, INTO THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THAT THE CPD HAS REFUSED TO REOPEN THESE WHAT COULD BE THE RAMIFICATIONS WERE DEPARTMENT THAT ALL WAY ALREADY HAS A PROBLEM WITH TRUST, PARTICULARLY IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

THE POLICE CANNOT EFFECTIVELY KEEP PEOPLE SAFE IF PEOPLE DO NOT TRUST AND COOPERATE WITH THE POLICE.

AND AS I SAY, I I DO NOT THINK WE CAN ASK POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN ASK PEOPLE TO TRUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE.

CPD SAYS THAT NONE OF THE ACCUSED OFFICER STATED THAT THEY KNEW THAT THE OATH KEEPERS WERE AN EXTREMIST GROUP, NOR DID THEY STATE THAT THEY HAD ANY INTENTIONS OF JOINING A VIOLENT EXTREMIST GROUP.

CPD ALSO SAYS THAT NONE OF THE ACCUSED MEMBERS WERE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE GROUP TALKING TO SURE OF THAT.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY CAN FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE FROM THE INVESTIGATION THAT THEY CAN BASED ON BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE THAT INVESTIGATION, YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS THAT THEY DID NOT ANSWER.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ON MAY 3RD, CPD SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING SAID THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS THOROUGH AND HAD, QUOTE, REACHED OUT TO EVERYONE WHO ELSE SHOULD THEY HAVE REACHED OUT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ONLY INVESTING ARE THE ONLY INTERVIEW TO THE 8 OFFICERS IN QUESTION.

I'M PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF DOING THIS WORK IS TO IDENTIFY THESE MATERIAL DEFICIENCIES WITHOUT KIND OF MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING THE INVESTIGATION.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE INVESTIGATION ON PAPER, THE INVESTIGATION THAT CPD CONDUCTED BELIEVED TO BE MATERIALLY DEFICIENT.

CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING HAS CALLED IT, QUOTE, MISLEADING TO CONNECT TO THE INTO THE CHICAGO POLICE TIES WITH THE PROUD BOYS AND OATH KEEPERS TO JANUARY 6 SAYING THAT NONE OF THEM KNOWINGLY KNEW THAT THE GROUPS ARE DEDICATED VIOLENT FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM.

IS THAT A FAIR CRITICISM OF YOUR CALL TO FIRE THESE OFFICERS?

WE'VE LAID OUT THE HISTORY OF THESE GROUPS IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

I THINK IT IS I IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT ALL ALONG THESE GROUPS HAVE HAVE SAID WHAT THEY AND THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK ANY DIFFERENT.

THE REASON TO THINK THAT THE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE GROUPS THAT THEY WERE SIGNING UP FOR.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE REASONS THAT THEY GAVE FOR JOINING THESE GROUPS?

OFFICERS TALKED ABOUT WANTING DISCOUNTS ON CERTAIN THINGS.

I'M WANTING TO LEARN ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES THAT THAT STRIKES ME AS A DISINGENUOUS EXPLANATION FOR JOINING EXTREMIST AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT GROUPS.

YOUR REPORT ALSO NOTES THAT THE CPD HAS MOVED IN THE PAST TO TERMINATE OFFICERS WITH LINKS TO KU KLUX OR STREET GAMES.

I'M USING THE RULE VIOLATION THAT YOU CONTEND WILL ALLOW OFFICERS WITH TIES TO RIGHT-WING EXTREMIST GROUPS TO BE TERMINATED THESE GROUPS CAN BE CATEGORIZED IN THE SAME WAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

CPD HAS RECENTLY TAKEN THE POSITION THAT MEMBERSHIP IN A GROUP WITH THE OATH KEEPERS CANNOT CONSTITUTE A RULE VIOLATION.

THAT'S IN CONTRAST TO THE POSITION CPD HAS TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO STREET GANGS AND IT'S IN CONTRAST TO THE POSITION AT CPD TOOK 50 YEARS AGO WHEN IT APPLIED THE SAME RULE TO FIRE OFFICERS FOR ASSOCIATING WITH THE.

IF THE RULE IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE OATH KEEPERS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GETTING SEPARATE TREATMENT?

I THINK I THINK THE CITY HAS FAILED TO MEET ITS COMMITMENTS HERE WE'VE CALLED ON CPD ON THE MAYOR TO DO MORE AND TO DO BETTER.

REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT MAYOR JOHNSON HAD FALLEN SHORT OF FULFILLING HIS PROMISE TO ROOT OUT EXTREMISM IN THE RANKS.

WHAT SHOULD HE DO NOW?

HE SHOULD GET THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS TOO BIG AND TOO IMPORTANT TO EXPECT A SOLUTION THAT JUST LIVES WITHIN THE 4 WALLS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE NEED TO BE IDENTIFYING AND TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY ACROSS CITY, RECRUITING AND HIRING AND BUDGETING AND TRAINING TO PREVENT DETECT AND ELIMINATE EXTREMISM IN THE POLICE RANKS THAT BUCK STOPS AT CITY HALL.

OKAY.

A I G DOUBLE.

WHAT'S BERG.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

THANKS ME.

UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR A PROPOSED MERGER OF CTA, METRA AND PACE.

STAY WITH US.

IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY AT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT DRAMATICALLY CHANGING HOW TRANSIT WORKS IN CHICAGO.

MEANWHILE, THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMING UNDER FIRE AS WE JUST HEARD FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ILLINOIS.

REPUBLICANS WILL SOON HAVE A NEW PARTY LEADER HERE WITH ALL THAT MORE SPOTLIGHT.

BALTICS TEAM AND VICKI HAD A SHARON, NICK BLOOMBERG, WELCOME BACK.

GANG.

SO, NICK, LET'S START WITH YOU.

STANDING ROOM ONLY TODAY, AS WE SAID AT THE FIRST OF 6 SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF MERGING THE STATE'S 3 TRANSIT AGENCIES.

THE IDEA IS TO COMBINE, OF COURSE, THE CTA, METRA AND PACE INTO ONE SUPER AGENCY OVERSEEING TRANSIT.

WE HAVE DETAILS ON WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

WE'VE GOT SOME, YOU KNOW, OUTLINES HERE.

BUT AS WITH THINGS LIKE THIS, THEY CAN ALWAYS BUT THE PROPOSAL IS FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE METROPOLITAN MOBILITY AUTHORITY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, IT WOULD COME BY AND, YOU KNOW, URBAN NEAR SUBURBAN BUS AND TRANSIT BUS AND TRAIN, RATHER, YOU KNOW, COMMUTER REGIONAL RAIL, SUBURBAN BUS AND PARATRANSIT UNDER ONE ROOF.

IT WOULD HAVE A SINGLE BOARD APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE MAYOR AND COUNTY BOARD HEADS IDEAS, BETTER COORDINATION, A SINGLE FARE, IMPROVED SERVICES ADVOCATES SAY THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT SEES CREATED BY ELIMINATING REDUNDANT JOBS.

AND THE BIG THING HERE IS THAT THIS PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IN NEW FUNDING.

BUT YES, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE VIDEO, A LOT OF INTEREST, YOU KNOW, TUESDAY MORNING AT 10:00AM IN THE SUMMER AND WE PACKED THE ROOM.

GOOD JOB, THE HEADS OF CTA, METRA AND PACE, THEY ALL ADDRESS LAWMAKERS TODAY PUSHING BACK ON THE MERGER IDEA, BUT ECHOING CALLS FOR SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUNDING.

HERE IS WHAT SOME OF THEM HAD TO SAY.

WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CUSTOMER.

WE ALL WANT TO DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN.

I DO NOT BELIEVE COMBINING US INTO ONE ORGANIZATION WILL MAKE BETTER FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

THE INADEQUACY OF CJ FUNDING FORMULA HAS BEEN OPEN SECRET WITH THE CAN KICK DOWN THE ROAD YEAR AFTER YEAR AND DECADE AFTER DECADE.

WE MAY VICTIMS OUR OWN SUCCESS.

WE DO OPERATE ALINA SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

WE KEEP MAKING IT HAPPEN.

WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES.

SO, NICK, WHAT KIND OF REACTION TO AGENCY HEADS GET FROM LAWMAKERS?

WILL STATE SENATOR RON BELIEVE WHO IS ONE OF THE BACKERS OF THIS LEGISLATION SAID AT THE OUTSET THAT AGENCY LEADERS SHOULDN'T EXPECT MORE FUNDING WITHOUT REFORMS NOW, BUT INTO THE HEARING, HE THAT A LITTLE BIT SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS CONSENSUS WILL MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS MERGER LEGISLATION, IF NOT, HEY, MAYBE WE COULD KEEP THE STATUS QUO.

BUT THE FOCUS WAS PRETTY SQUARELY ON MAKING AT LEAST SOME REFORMS, IF NOT A WHOLESALE MERGER.

THEY WERE ASKED AGENCY LEADERS WERE ASKED, YOU KNOW, DO YOU BELIEVE THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT LATE LAST YEAR SUGGESTING THIS AS ONE OF THE WAYS FORWARD FOR TRANSIT AND THEY SAID PRETTY SQUARELY THAT WE DON'T THINK COMBINING THE 3 OF US INTO A SINGLE AGENCY IS THE RIGHT IDEA.

THEY WERE ALSO ASKED ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BETTER IMPROVE SERVICE AND BETTER COORDINATE WITHOUT A MERGER THAT SOMETHING THEY SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE NEW DAY PAST THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO RIDE CTA, METRA AND PACE FOR A SINGLE PRICE.

TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE BUS, RAPID TRANSIT.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST FROM LAWMAKERS IN TYING THAT EXTRA BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS OR WHATEVER.

THE FINAL NUMBER ENDS UP BEING TO SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REFORMS.

SO ONE UNIVERSAL FAIR FOR SINGLE PAST THAT COULD BE USED WITH ANY OF THE 3 TRANSIT COMPANIES.

OF COURSE, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS WHEN IT COMES TO MORE FUN, MORE REFORMS AND OF COURSE, FUNDING AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS IS A HUGE LIFT.

THESE ARE 3 VERY SEPARATE AGENCIES WITH A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, BUREAUCRACIES AND BOARDS AND PLANS AND PROCEDURES AND UNION CONTRACTS.

THERE WILL BE AT LEAST 5 MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER.

WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR FROM POLITICAL LEADERS, COOK COUNTY BOARD, PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE IS OPEN TO THIS IDEA.

CTA PRESIDENT DORVAL CARTER TODAY SAID AT THE HEARING THAT HE'S HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYOR JOHNSON AND CITY LEADERS.

AND THERE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT GOVERNMENTS ISN'T THE PROBLEM.

IT'S DECADES OF CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF TRANSIT.

SO BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE THE SERIES OF HEARINGS AT THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN FILED.

BUT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY MOVEMENT ON THIS, AT LEAST UNTIL THE VETO SESSION AT THE EARLIEST.

AND FRANKLY, I'D BE SURPRISED IF WE SAW A VOTE ON THIS BEFORE THE ELECTION IN AND A SHAKING HER NO WAY BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT IS FIRST OF ALL, TOO BIG OF A CHANGE TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT BY THEN.

BUT ALSO THAT'S POLITICALLY RISKY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF FIEFDOMS THERE.

A LOT OF CUSTOMERS WHO ARE IMPACTED.

IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE ELECTION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE CLOCK IS TICKING BECAUSE 2026, 7 130 MILLION DOLLAR FISCAL CLIFF THAT THESE 3 AGENCIES ARE GOING TO HIT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO WAIT A WHILE, BUT THEY CAN'T WAIT TOO LONG.

DON'T HAVE TOO LONG TO WAIT LIKE FOLKS WHO MAYBE WAITING FOR A BUS OR TRAIN.

ADDED THERE ARE 8.

WHAT?

YEAH, ON ITS FACE, RIGHT?

IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA LIKE THIS MIGHT BE MORE CONVENIENT FOR PASSENGERS, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT REMAINS A QUESTION.

SO WE SO WE JUST HEARD FROM CHICAGO INSPECTOR GENERAL NUMBER, WHAT'S BERG LAYING OUT HER ARGUMENT FOR WHY SHE BELIEVES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION INTO 8 OFFICERS WHO HAD BEEN FOUND TO HAVE TIES TO FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUPS.

HEADER DURING THE 2023 CAMPAIGN, BRANDON JOHNSON PROMISE TO FIGHTERS CPD WITH TIES TO THESE GROUPS.

WHY HASN'T HE?

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

ONE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FIRE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS.

THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS.

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT SURE THERE'S ACTUALLY A LEGAL PROCESS TO DO IT IN A CONTESTED FIRING BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE POLICE BOARD HAS TO CHANGE ITS PROCESSES BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE, ARBITRATION, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, WHICH IS STILL IN THE APPELLATE COURTS RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE OVERALL QUESTION IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE A CANDIDATE, IT'S REALLY EASY TO SAY, YEAH, I'M GOING TO FIRE BAD COPS.

IT'S A LOT HARDER WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD AND THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT PROTECTING THESE OFFICERS.

FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF ASSEMBLY AND SORT OF HAVING THEIR OWN POLITICAL VIEWS.

BUT THE OTHER SIDE, AS WE HEARD EVER WITH BERG SAID THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

CHICAGOANS, PARTICULARLY CHICAGOANS OF COLOR AND AND CHICAGOANS HAVE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OFFICERS WHO BELONG TO THIS GROUP WHO SORT OF A SPOUSE, A WHITE-SUPREMACIST APPROACH TO THIS NATION, WHETHER THEY CAN REALLY BE COUNTED ON TO HELP THEM ON THE WORST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.

THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION THAT BRANDON JOHNSON IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONFRONT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

YOU BEING VERY DIFFICULT TO FIRE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OBVIOUSLY THEY WHAT'S CONSIDERED A STRONG UNION THAT REPRESENTS AND PROTECT THEM AS WELL.

HAVE WE HEARD FROM FROM THE UNION, THE POLICE UNION ON THIS ISSUE, WHAT WE HAVE AND BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN NO FORMAL DISCIPLINARY PROCESS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD 3 SEPARATE INVESTIGATION INTO OFFICERS WITH TIES, THE OATH KEEPERS AND THE PROUD BOYS AND OTHER.

THERE'S ONE STILL ONGOING TO ANOTHER EXTREMIST GROUP.

THE 3 PERCENTERS, NONE OF THEM HAS EVER GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE UNION WOULD EVEN GET INVOLVED BECAUSE NONE OF THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED.

THE QUESTION OBVIOUSLY SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT SIMPLY SORT OF ASSOCIATED WITH THESE GROUPS SORT OF SIGNING UP ANALYSTS, SORT OF SAYING I WANT TO JOIN.

IT'S ENOUGH TO TERMINATE SOMEONE.

I THINK THAT'S AN OPEN QUESTION WHETHER ALL OF CHICAGO AGREES.

THAT'S HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD WORK.

WELL, AND ALSO APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO THE IG, IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS FACT AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT THOSE ARE THE ONLY REASON SAYS OFFICERS JOINED SAID SHE FINDS THERE RESEARCH TO BE HAS SHOULD EXAMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

VERY FEW PEOPLE WILL.

IT MEANT TO WRONGDOING SIMPLY WHEN ASKED A DISCIPLINARY PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR JOB IS ON THE LAWN, AND SO THE QUESTION IS, IS, YOU KNOW, SUPERINTENDENTS TELLING SAID THESE INVESTIGATIONS WERE THOROUGH AND THAT HE STOOD BEHIND THEM.

I THINK THERE ARE NOW REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THOROUGHNESS OF THAT INVESTIGATION.

AND I REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY CPD HAS REFUSED TO SORT OF TAKE DENVER WITH BURNS, CRITICISM AND CIRCLE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN EACH OF THE PREVIOUS 2 INVESTIGATION OF EXTREMIST COPS THINK DID GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

AND IN ONE CASE, AN OFFICER AGREED TO A SUSPENSION OF 120 DAYS.

THE OTHER THE OTHER INVESTIGATION, NOTHING CHANGED.

OKAY.

LESS THAN A WEEK UNTIL REPUBLICANS DESCEND UPON MILWAUKEE.

THE FOLKS AT THIS TABLE WILL BE THERE EXCEPT FOR JUST 90 MINUTES AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT AND THINGS AS CHAOTIC FOR THE REPUBLICANS AS THEY ARE FOR THE DEMOCRATS SAY LESS THAN A WEEK UNTIL WE PORT ALL THAT GOES ON.

THERE WERE ARE CHICAGO TONIGHT, VIEWERS, I DON'T KNOW THAT THINGS ARE QUITE AS CHAOTIC AND NOT IN MILWAUKEE YET.

SO WE WILL AGAIN WIND OUT OF COURSE, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS TO WHO'S GOING TO BE PRESIDENT.

DONALD TRUMP'S RUNNING MATE.

WE DON'T KNOW.

DOES HE KNOW HE'S JUST NOT SAYING OR DOES HE NOT EVEN KNOW AT THIS POINT?

I THINK THAT IS AT THIS POINT.

THE BIG OUTSTANDING QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE THAT, HOWEVER, IS CHAOS BECAUSE MANY OF THE PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE A DELEGATE FOR DONALD TRUMP, I DON'T THINK YOU REALLY GET MUCH OF A WHO THE RUNNING MATE IS.

THESE ARE THE TRUMP FAITH GOING TO SAY PARTY FAITHFUL.

IT IS BEYOND THAT.

THEY ARE THE TRUMP FAITHFUL AND THEY'RE THERE FOR HIM.

NOT THE ONE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ROTTEN LAST WEEK AND A HALF THAT BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN SEASON IS BEATING HIM POLITICAL SELF-INTEREST TO COME OUT WITH A BIG SPLASHY PLAY FLOYD HILL.

AND YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF OF BYE AT THIS POINT?

IF YOU'RE THE REPUBLICANS, ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY, MEANWHILE, EXPECTED TO HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

THAT IS FOLLOWING STATE GOP CHAIR PERSON DONTRE SEE REVIVE RESIGNING JUST OVER 2 WEEKS AGO.

AMANDA, ARE YOU HEARING RUMBLINGS ABOUT WHO MIGHT BE CHOSEN TO LEAD TO SEE IF THERE IS A CLOSED DOOR MEETING ON FRIDAY WHERE THEY COULD MAKE A DECISION.

IT MIGHT NOT BE SETTLED BY THEN WHO THE CHAIR OF THE PARTY WILL BE THERE, AT LEAST, HOWEVER, GOING TO HEAR FROM THE HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE PUTTING THEIR HAT IN FOR THAT JOB IS VERY MUCH A DIFFICULT JOB BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PARTY THAT IS FRANKLY QUITE SPLINTERED.

WE'RE SEEING THOSE DIVISIONS COME TO THE FORE, INCLUDING WITH TRACY'S RESIGNATION.

SO WE WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF NAMES THERE, FOR A COUPLE OF IT, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE GAINING SOME TRACTION DOWN.

STATE SENATOR JASON PLUMMER WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THERE IS REPUBLICAN ON PALATINE WHO PREVIOUSLY LED THE COOK COUNTY GOP DEL MAR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO ALL IS GOING TO BE MAKING THEIR PITCH.

AND AGAIN, ALL EYES ON THAT, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT COMES AT SUCH A PIVOTAL TIME, OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, WITH THE RNC JUST NEXT WEEK.

SEEMS LIKE THE KIND OF THING YOU'D WANT TO HAVE LINED UP BEFORE YOU BEFORE YOU HEAD MILWAUKEE NEXT WEEK.

I'M NO EXPERT, BUT I'M OK.

SO YOU MENTIONED THE DEMOCRATS FLAILING.

TODAY, GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE IS ALL IN ON BIDEN.

I'M NOT ENGAGING IN ANY HYPOTHETICALS.

YOU CAN SEE THEM ALL IN FOR JOE BIDEN.

JOE BIDEN'S GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

I'VE ENDORSED HIM AND KAMALA HARRIS.

HE'S GOING TO BE AT THE CONVENTION IN AUGUST ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION AND I'LL BE CHEERING FOR HIM IN THE AUDIENCE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SOME ISSUES QUESTIONS, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, REMAIN OVER WHETHER OR NOT CANNED REMAIN OR WILL, IN FACT, BECOME THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY FROM ILLINOIS, THOUGH, SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEWS OVER THE WEEKEND DID NOTHING TO REASSURE HIM, AMANDA, WHERE OUR OTHER ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS IN TERMS OF THEIR SUPPORT FOR BIDEN DO QUICKLY IS REALLY THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS OPENLY CALLED AT LEAST PROMINENT ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT WHO HAS SAID THAT HE WANTS BIDEN OUT OF THE RACE AND BELIEVES THAT THE PRESIDENT CANNOT WIN ANOTHER TERM.

YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR THERE CLEARLY TAKING THE OPPOSITE TACK.

OF ARE NOT EXPECTING GOVERNOR PRITZKER TO DO ANYTHING BUT THAT HE IS ONE OF THE TOP SURROGATES FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

BUT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.

THAT CLIP THAT WE ACTUALLY HEARD WAS IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ASKING, OK, SO ANOTHER NAME THAT'S OFTEN ON THIS SHORT LIST OF WHAT IF IT DROPS OUT MICHIGAN GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER AND SHE SAID NO, THAT SHE EVEN BIDEN DOES DROP OUT OF THE RACE, SHE WOULD NOT BE THE NOMINEE GOVERNOR PRITZKER WHETHER HE WOULD SAY THE SAME AND HE DIDN'T YEARD RIGHT THERE AS WE HEARD CALLING IT A HYPOTHETICAL, HE IN THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING, REPORTERS REALLY HOUNDING HIM A LOT.

HE SAID THAT HE DOESN'T THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

HE DOES NOT EXPECT THERE TO BE A BROKERED DNC.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT IS A BIG TAKEAWAY.

HE IS NOT RULING OUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE WOULD BE ON SOME SORT OF WHITE HOUSE TICKET.

SHOULD THE OPPORTUNITY ARISE?

ALSO A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD FOR HIM ISN'T HE SORT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE HOSTING OF THE DNC?

AND SO IT WOULD WELL, THE LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE IF IT GOT TO THAT WHEN WHEN THE DNC GOES BAD, LOOK LOW BACK.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS SPOTLIGHTS LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK'S GAME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AMANDA NICK AND OF COURSE, MAKE CHICAGO TONIGHT YOUR HOME FOR THE RNC NEXT WEEK.

JOIN US LIVE AT 5, 30 10 EACH CONVENTION NIGHT.

WE WILL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE WITH THE FOLKS JUST HEARD FROM HERE FROM MILWAUKEE AND ANALYSIS BEFORE AND AFTER PBS NEWS HOUR.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

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YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW THE A PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10, A NEW BOOK EXPLORES ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO CONFRONT THE ISSUE OF MASS INCARCERATION.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO SCREAM AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD, PERSONAL INJURY, LAW