Judiciary Committee controlled by House Republicans hear testimony on Chicago crime at FOP HQ

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Members of the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee were in Chicago Tuesday, to talk about crime.

Some Chicago leaders are questioning the visit to the Fraternal Order of Police headquarters, calling it a political stunt.

But members of the House Judiciary Committee said they want to take a closer look at the rising crime, and highlight what they call Democrats' soft-on-crime policies.

Members had a lot to say with the recent rash of back-to-back robberies targeting, and in some cases injuring, innocent residents almost daily.

At least four more people were held up at gunpoint on sidewalks early Tuesday morning.

"Innocent people in Chicago are victimized by a justice system that cares more about political correctness than punishing the criminals who have harmed them and their families. For 11 years, 11 years, Chicago has led the country in homicides, and has only gotten worse under State's Attorney Kim Foxx. According to an official report, like Chicago Police Department, crime in Chicago overall has increased during the last five years by nearly 20%. That is also a huge problem in Chicago, which saw an 114% increase in car thefts and the 32% increase in other steps between 2018 and 2022," said U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Jordan is the House Judiciary Committee chair.

In addition to Foxx, Republicans also pointed fingers at Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, all Democrats.

It was a hearing that focused on problems but offered no concrete solutions.

With a government shutdown looming, Democratic leaders in Illinois say this is a way to distract from problems in Washington.

Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky said in a statement, "What we are seeing right now is a total collapse of the proper operations of government on the part of the Republicans. So, what are the far-right extremists trying to do instead? Distract Americans from the fact that starting this weekend, hardworking federal employees will be forced to work without pay, head-start programs will close, and small business loan applications will come to a halt... They have no business being in Chicago discussing public safety."

Those testifying include victims of violent crimes, like Carlos Yanez Jr., a now-retired CPD officer shot four times and seriously injured during a traffic stop that left his partner, Ella French, dead.

"With all the policies and procedures put into place, officers find themselves with their hands tied behind their back. Being an officer is stressful enough. But now it seems like there is a witch hunt after officers unnecessarily," Yanez said. "Officers continue to lap up violent offenders, but we find them back on the street committing even more violent crimes, including murder."

Police and relatives of crime victims also testified.

The hearing raised concerns about the newly implemented policy getting rid of cash bond in Illinois.

"Today's forum is about our commitment to justice and keeping communities safe. In recent years, we've all seen how the radical left has sought to undermine public safety in the name of criminal justice reform," Jordan said.

Speakers criticized Mayor Johnson for saying youth who engage in mob takeovers should not be demonized.

Others called into question CPD's no-chase policies.

"Politicians prioritize ideological goals over evidence-based practices. It puts our officers in a difficult position; they become pawns in a larger political game, forced to enforce laws and policies that may not necessarily serve the best interests of our community and public safety," retired Chicago police Lt. John Garrido said. "You know criminals don't ask your party affiliation before they stick you up or they shoot at you. And that's my fear is that this is going to be overshadowed with partisan politics. And that's not the case at all."

Foxx fired back Tuesday.

"This was a political stunt, plain and simple. This was part of the Republican strategy, Jim Jordan, coming all the way from Ohio, days before a government shutdown, while it's looming, to try to cast aspersions on the city of Chicago," she said.

She called out Republicans for using crime victims as political pawns.

"People can have disagreements about policy all day. What today was was a political stunt. And the purpose of it was to generate attention and headlines, not for any meaningful discussion," Foxx said.

Jordan, speaking after the hearing, denied this was politically motivated, saying there's nothing political about what happened to officer Yanez or other crime victims. He said it was about trying to draw attention to real problems that impact real people.

Gianno Caldwell's brother, Christian, was murdered last year in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood.

"I implore you to exercise your full power and resources. Christian's death is senseless. It's a senseless loss, but it doesn't have to be a meaningless one," Caldwell said.

Republicans say they will continue to hold hearings like this in other cities around the country where crime is a major concern to draw attention to it, and to the policies they say contribute to the problem.

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