Chicago, IL

Chicago police officer charged in Jan. 6 attack to be offered plea deal by federal prosecutors

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2022

Chicago police officer charged in Jan. 6 attack to be offered plea deal by federal prosecutors

CHICAGO (WLS) — Federal prosecutors plan to supply a responsible plea deal to the Chicago police officer charged with crimes throughout final 12 months’s Capitol riot, the I-Group realized in a court docket listening to Wednesday.

Federal brokers say Karol Chwiesiuk went to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, vowing to “save the nation.”

Now, almost 16 months later, his attorneys are working to avoid wasting him from a felony conviction. Whereas Chwiesiuk is anticipating a suggestion from the federal government to plead responsible, his legal professional stated he maintains his innocence and appears ahead to trial.

SEE ALSO | Rising variety of responsible pleas for Illinoisans charged in Jan. 6 assault

Photos in federal court docket information spotlight a Chicago police sweatshirt that prosecutors say then 29-year-old Chwiesiuk wore to the revolt in Washington.

The Harrison District officer was arrested final summer time and charged with a number of misdemeanors, prompting his boss, Supt. David Brown, to say it makes his “blood boil” and sick to his abdomen.

Chwiesiuk has been stripped of his police powers and is at present on a depart of absence, in line with a division spokesperson.

Federal officers in Washington Thursday stated “a plea provide will probably be forthcoming” to Chwiesiuk.

“A Chicago police officer goes to wish to keep away from any conviction, whether or not it is a felony or a misdemeanor, but it surely nonetheless would not have quite a lot of room to function right here until the federal government is keen to cross on the costs fully,” ABC7 authorized analyst Gil Soffer stated. “He has all the motivation on the planet to strike a plea for a misdemeanor and never take a danger on one thing extra critical.”

Soffer, a former federal prosecutor, instructed the I-Group that the federal government and Chwiesiuk have incentives to keep away from an precise trial.

“Going to trial and being convicted is worse than taking a plea for a police officer,” Soffer instructed the I-Group. “He’ll have the publicity that comes with a trial nevertheless lengthy it takes, he is going to have a look at a extra critical penalty in all probability from a choose who will not be happy that he pressured a case the place the federal government’s proof is robust to trial. So there’s quite a lot of the reason why he must be taking a plea as an alternative of taking it to trial.”

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.