Chicago Inspector General Accuses City Law Department of Obstructing Investigations

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg urges legislative reforms to address alleged interference by the city's Law Department in politically sensitive investigations.

• Inspector General Deborah Witzburg alleges that the city's Law Department selectively obstructs investigations to protect city leaders from potential political embarrassment.
• Key obstructions include withholding documents, slow compliance with subpoenas, and demands for city attorneys to attend investigative interviews, which Witzburg says intimidates witnesses and chills cooperation.
• The Law Department's practices have delayed or canceled investigations into allegations of bribery, retaliation, and misconduct involving senior city officials and mayoral appointees.
• Witzburg has proposed legislative changes to strengthen the inspector general's independence, including limiting attorney-client privilege claims and barring city lawyers from investigative interviews without approval.
• Alderman Matt Martin, chair of the City Council's Ethics Committee, plans to introduce legislation addressing these issues, with potential action as early as February 19.

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