Federal Prosecutors Say Operation New Dawn Is A Crime-Fighting Success in Chicago, Rockford
Federal prosecutors have charged hundreds of people as part of a crackdown on crime in the Chicago area over the last two months.
Speaking at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago on Thursday afternoon, Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, applauded the success of Operation New Dawn, saying "a new dawn of crime fighting is underway in Chicago."
Boutros said 179 individuals were charged across 140 newly-filed cases as part of Operation New Dawn which involved 11 federal agencies, and 305 fugitives were apprehended and 24 children, many of whom were kidnapped, were located and safely returned home.
Boutros, who was joined by representatives of several federal agencies, also said Chicago Police, including outgoing Superintendent Larry Snelling, provided strong, sustained support and assistance throughout Operation New Dawn.
Boutros also asked reporters to stay on topic during the news conference and mentioned "reckless reporting" by some members of the media and was asked if that was in reference to the case of the Broadview Six, in which charges were dropped against six Operation Midway Blitz protesters because of alleged misconduct by Boutros' office.
Boutros did not directly say that he was referring to that case with his comments but said "there has been an incredible amount of reckless reporting in this room...it almost rises to the level of violating New York Times Co V. Sullivan..." referring to a landmark 1964 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled the freedom of speech protections in the First Amendment limit the ability of public officials to sue for defamation.
Hundreds arrested in federal crackdown
Hundreds arrested in federal crackdown
