RFI Statement: Chicago City Council Must Act to Stop Obstruction of Inspector General’s Investigations

Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg recently made headlines by saying her office has faced interference from the City’s Law Department, making it harder to investigate potential ethics violations. An ordinance designed to fix the problem was stalled by an ally of Mayor Johnson – sent to the Rules Committee where it has languished for months.

This is unacceptable. Witzburg’s allegations were alarming, detailing how the Law Department – apparently on behalf of whichever mayor was in office at the time – obstructed her office’s investigations by withholding documents based on an unsound interpretation of attorney-client confidentiality, sending City lawyers to sit in on sensitive interviews with witnesses, and failing to help the Inspector General enforce subpoenas.

How many more scandals do Chicagoans have to put up with to get basic reforms like this?The Inspector General’s office is crucial for ensuring honest governance, and the law is clear: City departments must cooperate with its investigations.

Ethics Committee Chair Ald. Matt Martin sponsored the ordinance, which would clarify the Law Department’s obligations to work with the City’s watchdog. This Wednesday, Chair Martin will ask the City Council to transfer the legislation to the Ethics Committee, where it can receive the robust public debate it deserves and the chance to move on to a full vote in the Council.

We urge Council members to approve the move and show they’re committed to serving the people – not protecting the mayor and City Hall insiders.

We sat down with Inspector General Witzburg in April to dive into the details of City Hall’s “egregiously obstructive” practices and what to do about them. Listen here.