By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network
CHICAGO – Democratic candidates in the U.S. Senate race aren’t demanding resignations over the handling of the Laquan McDonald case.
Protesters have called for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to leave office since the footage of McDonald being shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer was released.
U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Hoffman Estates) argues they shouldn’t.
“No, I don’t think Rahm should resign right now. I think that the mayor should do the right thing instead of just talk about it, and I think that the voters are going to have a chance to make a decision on the state’s attorney very soon,” Duckworth said. “But in the meantime, as this whole thing is moving forward, I want to hear a lot less talk and a lot more action.”
One of her primary rivals, Andrea Zopp, takes a similar position, but takes it one step further by calling for a special prosecutor to be appointed in the case of the officer who shot and killed McDonald, Jason Van Dyke.
In a letter sent last week to Alvarez and the Circuit Court of Cook County, Zopp said “Rebuilding trust is imperative. The best interests of the people require that the Cook County State’s Attorney recuse herself from the prosecution of this case and allow the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to proceed.”
The U.S. Senate campaign of State Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) did not respond to a request for comment on the calls for Emanuel and Alvarez to resign.
