Drug charges against a Chicago man serving a 14-year sentence and who said he was framed by a corrupt faction of the Chicago Police Department are expected to be dropped Thursday morning, meaning the man, Ben Baker, could go free as early as Thursday afternoon, the Chicago Tribune reported. Alvarez’s office charged officer Jason Van Dyke in November just hours before a video was released of him shooting Laquan McDonald, and she has faced near daily calls for her resignation ever since.
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The party’s decision could produce some political drama as it pits Foxx supporters like Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle against Alvarez supporters like House Speaker Mike Madigan.
Before the endorsement was announced, state’s attorney candidate Donna More said she wasn’t seeking the support of the party, and pointed to Foxx’s lack of experience as an example of politics as usual for the county. But with the county’s criminal justice system in crisis, party leaders endorsed Kim Foxx.
“As a lifelong Democrat and a lifelong Cook County Democrat, to have the support of the Cook County Democratic Party at this moment in history is very humbling”, Foxx said. Campaign spokesman Ken Snyder called it a sign that Alvarez was an “independent” voice.
“Anita Alvarez has never had a comfortable relationship with the Cook County machine”, Snyder said.
Aided by staunch support from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, her former boss, Foxx’s endorsement Thursday wasn’t much of a surprise to those who have been following the race. Late last summer, the Democrats decided not to support any candidate in the state’s attorney’s race.
While having the official support of the Democratic Party is a huge victory for our campaign, we still have work to do.
Alvarez has been on the defensive, saying such investigations take time. The party’s backing has meant less in recent years, though, as patronage has dwindled.
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Foxx dismissed the criticism, saying she had a record aside from the chief of staff job, including as a Cook County assistant state’s attorney.
