FOSSIL-HUNTING EXPEDITION IN THE ARCTIC.

>>> NOW TO OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT.

A DEFIANT KIM FOX ANNOUNCED THAT AFTER A GRUELING EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE, SHE WILL NOT SEEK A THIRD TERM AS COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

HEATHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IS JUST NINE MONTHS AWAY.

LET'S LISTEN TO HOW FOX BROKE THE NEWS.

>> I DID NOT SET OUT TO BE A CAREER POLITICIAN.

WHEN I CAME STATE'S ATTORNEY, I KNEW THAT I HAD A MISSION AND AN AGENDA THAT I WANTED TO ACHIEVE, WHICH IS FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND A. I FEEL THAT I HAVE DONE THAT.

>> FOX SAID SHE WAS LEAVING BY HER CHOICE.

WHY NOT RUN FOR A THIRD TERM?

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT THE PAST EIGHT YEARS HAVE BEEN BRUISING POLITICALLY.

SHE HAS BEEN A LIGHTNING ROD FOR CONTROVERSY LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

THAT WAS REALLY APPARENT DURING HER SPEECH TODAY.

SHE WANTED TO GO OUT ON HER OWN TERMS.

AS YOU HEARD HER SAY, SHE FELT LIKE SHE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT SHE SET OUT TO DO IN 2016.

>> SHE DELIVERED A FIERCE DEFENSE OF A RECORD DURING HER SPEECH, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TRIGGERED A SURGE OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE THAT HAS YET TO FULLY RECEIVE.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> I REFUTE THE SUPPOSITION THAT THE RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME COINCIDES WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND IS SOMEHOW THE RESULT OF THE COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE.

IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.

TO SUGGEST THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR A RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME IS DISINGENUOUS AND A LIE.

>> SO WHAT DOES A RECORD SHOW?

>> HER FIRST THREE YEARS IN OFFICE, CRIME AND VIOLENCE DROPPED EACH OF THOSE YEARS ONLY TO SEE THE PROGRESS ROLLBACK AS THE PANDEMIC GRIPPED CHICAGO.

SO SHE IS NOT WRONG.

IT IS NOT FAIR TO PUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN TERMS OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE ON HER OFFICE.

IT IS OF COURSE A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IF SHE DID SEEK A THIRD TERM IN OFFICE SHE WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THAT INCREASE JUST AS WE SAW MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT VULNERABLE ON THOSE ISSUES IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

>> SO FOX WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE AS THE COUNTY'S TOP PROSECUTOR, AND SHE VOTED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR NONVIOLENT CRIMES JAIL BEFORE THEIR TRIALS.

>> WITH THAT APOLOGY, MY EFFORTS ON BAIL REFORM WERE CENTERED IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.

>> HER WORK IN COOK COUNTY, HEATHER, WAS A CATALYST FOR STATEWIDE CHANGES.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

>> WE ARE WAITING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT ARGUMENTS ON WHETHER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO END THE CASH BAIL STATEWIDE.

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE LAW NEVER WOULD HAVE PASSED IF IT WEREN'T FOR KIM FOX ALONG WITH COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT PUSHING THROUGH THESE CHANGES AND GIVING THE STATE A MODEL FOR HOW IT COULD WORK.

>> OF COURSE HER WORK WITH THE JESSE SMALL IT CASE OVERSHADOWED MUCH OF HER WORK.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE MAKES ME MAD!

>> WHAT WOULD SHE BE REMEMBERED FOR?

>> IT IS CLEAR THAT SHE DID MISHANDLE THAT , AND EVEN THOUGH THE INVESTIGATION CLEARED HER OF WRONGDOING, SHE WOULD MUCH RATHER BE REMEMBERED FOR OVERTURNING MORE THAN 200 WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND FREEING PEOPLE WHO WERE WRONGLY INCARCERATED BECAUSE, SHE SAID, OF MISCONDUCT BY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS WHY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNION MADE HER PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE FOR MUCH OF HER TIME IN OFFICE.