Special Counsel Files Russia Probe Report
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C Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Saturday, March 23, 2019 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com Deerfield Special counsel files assault weapons Russia probe report ban tossed Judge rules state laws pre-empt village from taking action By Karen Berkowitz Pioneer Press A Lake County Circuit Court judge ruled Friday that the village of Deerfield over- stepped its authority last year when it enacted a ban on assault weapons five years after the Illinois legislature declared such regulations the exclusive power of the state. Judge Luis Berrones issued a permanent injunction block- ing the village from enforcing its ordinance. In the ruling, Berrones wrote the plaintiff gun owners have “a clearly ascertainable right to not be subjected to a pre-empted and unenforce- able ordinance” that prohibits possession of assault weapons, imposes financial penalties for keeping them and allows their property to be confiscated. Deerfield officials said they are reviewing the ruling with their legal team and exploring options, including an appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court. In the meantime, they said, the village will abide by the ruling and not enforce its ban. “This unprecedented inter- pretation of state legislative action and intent make this PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP case ripe for appeal,” village Special counsel Robert Mueller has concluded his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. officials said in a statement. “We continue to believe that these weapons have no place Justice Department official says Mueller seeks no additional indictments in our community and that our common-sense assault weap- By Chris Megerian Mueller’s principal conclusions on regulations are legal and and Del Quentin Wilber “as soon as this weekend.” He also were properly enacted.” Los Angeles Times wrote that other information may Citing a spate of recent be made available to Congress, mass shootings with high WASHINGTON — Special and that he remains “committed death counts, Deerfield trust- counsel Robert Mueller turned in to as much transparency as pos- ees voted in April 2018 to ban his long-anticipated report on the sible.” possession of certain firearms Russia investigation Friday, a Barr wrote that there were no such as the AR-15, AK-47 and milestone in the political and instances in which Justice De- Uzi under their home rule legal saga that has threatened partment leaders overruled a authority to protect public President Donald Trump’s tenure decision by the special counsel. health, safety, morals and wel- and is likely to cloud his legacy. Trump flew to his resort com- fare. The Justice Department said pound in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, Local gun owners and gun- the report was delivered by a earlier Friday and had no imme- rights groups were quick to security officer Friday afternoon diate comment. file lawsuits claiming the vil- to the office of Deputy Attorney White House spokeswoman lage had missed its opportuni- General Rod Rosenstein, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a ty to ban assault weapons in then it went to Attorney General statement that the “next steps” 2013. William Barr. are up to Barr “and we look The Illinois legislature had The comprehensive report MARK WILSON/GETTY forward to the process taking its given municipalities until July marks the end of Mueller’s probe Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation lasted 22 months and course. The White House has not 19 of that year to regulate but sets the stage for political resulted in charges against 34 people, including campaign officials. received or been briefed on the assault weapons before a new fights to come. The next steps are Special Counsel’s report.” Illinois Concealed Carry Act up to Trump’s attorney general, to sure of relief to the embattled mittees, Barr wrote that Mueller Democrats and some Republi- and an amended Firearm Congress and, in all likelihood, White House. He charged 34 “has concluded his investigation cans quickly demanded that the Owner’s Identification Card federal courts. people over the last two years, the of Russian interference in the report be made public as soon as Act eliminated their ability to According to a senior Justice most of any special prosecutor 2016 election and related mat- possible and that all of the do so. Department official, Mueller did since Watergate. ters.” material be sent to Congress Deerfield officials said their not recommend any further in- In a letter to the leaders of the Barr said he may be able to dictments, likely bringing a mea- House and Senate judiciary com- advise the committees of Turn to Mueller, Page 4 Turn to Deerfield, Page 2 Autopsy showed abuse, NCAA TOURNAMENT Family awarded $5.1M but DCFS saw nothing in fatal shooting by cop Boy, 2, fatally beaten; nois Department of Children Slaying occurred in lice had planted a Glock semi- and Family Services that adds automatic firearm at the scene. caseworker previously to the troubling questions 2014, months before Smith’s killing in May 2014 reported no problems about how DCFS handled alle- McDonald was killed occurred five months before gations of abuse against the black teen Laquan McDonald By Rosemary Sobol boys’ mother and her By Jeremy Gorner was shot 16 times by white and Madeline Buckley boyfriend, and how well they Chicago Tribune police Officer Jason Van Dyke Chicago Tribune monitored the young brothers’ — a case that put the Police well-being. A Cook County jury has Department under unprece- For more than a year, state One of the caseworkers awarded nearly $5.1 million to dented scrutiny for the way it child welfare workers assigned to the boys’ family is the family of an African- investigates shootings by its watched over 2-year-old Ja’hir already under investigation for American man fatally shot by a officers. Gibbons and his 5-year-old possibly filing a false report white Chicago police officer An official statement on brother, looking for any signs days before Ja’hir was killed. nearly five years ago on the Smith’s shooting that morning that they had been physically The agency did not say how West Side. came from a spokesman for abused. much of the information on its The lawsuit largely hinged the Chicago Fraternal Order of They reported finding none, timeline is from that worker. on whether Gary Smith, 37, Police — a practice that was contradicting what relatives First-degree murder was carrying a gun when he abandoned after the court- and prosecutors say was a charges have been filed against KAREEM ELGAZZAR/CINCINNATI ENQUIRER was shot by Officer Arkadiusz ordered release of police dash- pattern of abuse that ended the boyfriend, Dejon Waters, Pachnik, then a tactical officer board camera video of with Ja’hir being brutally beat- 21, who police say admitted to assigned to the Austin District. McDonald’s shooting in late en to death Monday. In one getting angry at the boy and Shouting all the way Police contended Smith had 2015 roiled the city. instance, a caseworker re- beating him with his hands into the Round of 32 a gun, but some eyewitnesses, “How many verdicts like ported no problems on the and a rolled-up shirt. The including his girlfriend, said this does the city of Chicago same day the boys’ grand- boys’ mother, Brittany Hyc, 28, Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon celebrates he was not armed and actually have to hear before they actu- mother said both were badly has been charged with child after a 3-point basket Friday against had his hands up when Pach- ally do something?” Torreya bruised. endangerment because she Cincinnati in a first-round game in nik shot him multiple times, Hamilton, one of the family’s The new information left Ja’hir with Waters even Columbus, Ohio. Iowa was a 79-72 according to the family’s law- lawyers, said at an afternoon comes from a timeline re- winner on the second day of the tour- yers and their court filings. leased late Friday by the Illi- Turn to Death, Page 4 ney. Chicago Sports They also alleged that po- Turn to Shooting, Page 4 Chicago Weather Center: Complete $2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 elsewhere High Low Tom Skilling’s forecast 50 39 forecast on back of Chicago Sports 171st year No. 82 © Chicago Tribune 2 Chicago Tribune | Section 1 | Saturday, March 23, 2019 STACEY WESCOTT/CHICAGO TRIBUNE Jeff Davidman, from left, of Delta Air Lines, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Oscar Munoz of United Airlines and Franco Tedeschi of American Airlines take part in Wednesday’s groundbreaking at O’Hare International Airport. ‘CHICAGO BULLS: A O’Hare Terminal 5 expansion starts DECADE-BY-DECADE HISTORY’ Whether you’re a casual admirer of the magnificence of Work is part of modate large aircraft and Terminal 2. 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