Overview
- Inspector General Deborah Witzburg recommended terminating Jason Lee and placing him on a no‑hire list for failing to cooperate with her investigation.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson declined the recommendation, arguing Lee sought to exercise a right to counsel and made good‑faith efforts to participate.
- The probe followed Ald. Bill Conway’s claim that Lee linked clearing a West Loop homeless encampment to support for raising the real estate transfer tax and ending the tipped wage.
- Witzburg said she could not reach a finding on the underlying allegation because she lacked necessary cooperation, while emphasizing that city employees must comply with OIG inquiries.
- The dispute centers on whether city attorneys may attend OIG interviews, an issue later addressed by a compromise ordinance, and it arrives as City Hall prepares a budget proposal facing a $1.15 billion gap.