(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot countered some of what U.S. Attorney General William Barr had to say during his visit to Chicago on Wednesday.
Barr credited “Operation Legend” — a Department of Justice initiative that has sent a surge of federal agents to Chicago to help local authorities — with lowering violent crime in Chicago.
Lightfoot, in a separate appearance, said it’s premature to say how effective the extra resources have been, though she’s thankful for the help.
Tellingly, neither she nor Chicago Police Supt. David Brown were present at Barr's news conference. Barr said both had been invited, but politics were at play.
Lightfoot said she had not been invited to meet with the nation’s top legal officer but indicated she would not have gone, anyway.
“We’re never going to be used as a prop — never,” Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot has been at odds with the Trump Administration over a variety of issues. The Republican president has said cities like Chicago are imploding because of the failure of liberal politicians.