D C Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Saturday, September 8, 2018 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com Trump wants op-ed writer revealed President pressures If the person has a high-level security clearance, he said, “I Justice Department don’t want him in those meet- ings.” for investigation A White House official later said the president’s call for a ANTONIO PEREZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE By Ken Thomas, Zeke government investigation was Officer Kevin Tate was indicted Miller and Eric Tucker an expression of his frustration on federal charges along with Associated Press with the essay, not an order for fellow Officer Milot Cadichon. federal prosecutors to take ac- FARGO, N.D. — President tion. Donald Trump declared Friday Though the article was Charges: the U.S. Justice Department strongly critical of Trump, no should investigate and unmask classified information appears the author of a bitingly critical to have been revealed by the Cops took New York Times opinion piece author or leaked to the news- purportedly written by a member paper, which would be a crucial of an administration “resistance” SUSAN WALSH/AP bar to clear before a leak investi- cash to spill movement straining to thwart his President Donald Trump urges the Justice Department to investi- gation could be contemplated. most dangerous impulses. gate the publication of a critical op-ed in The New York Times. “The department does not Trump cited “national securi- confirm or deny investigations,” crash info ty” as the reason for such an He also said he was exploring “Jeff should be investigating said Sarah Isgur Flores, a Duo allegedly shared extraordinary probe, and he bringing legal action against the who the author of that piece was spokeswoman. called on Attorney General Jeff newspaper over publication of because I really believe it’s non-public data with Sessions to get it going. the essay two days earlier. national security,” Trump said. Turn to Trump, Page 2 attorney referral site By Jason Meisner Chicago Tribune Two veteran Chicago police “Telling people that order and security will be restored if it weren’t for those who don’t officers have been indicted on look like us, or don’t sound like us or don’t pray like we do — that’s an old playbook.” federal charges alleging they took thousands of dollars in — Former President Barack Obama kickbacks from the owner of an attorney referral service in exchange for inside informa- tion on victims from traffic crash reports. OBAMA’S WARNING: Officers Kevin Tate, 47, and Milot Cadichon, 46, face charges of bribery and conspira- cy to commit bribery, court records show. Also charged with ‘THIS IS NOT NORMAL’ one conspiracy count was Rich- ard Burton, 55, owner of Na- tional Attorney Referral Service in west suburban Bloomingdale. The charges alleged that between 2015 and 2017, Tate and Cadichon provided non- public information from crash reports to Burton, sometimes using cellphones to text Burton the victims’ contact informa- tion. Burton then used the information to solicit accident victims as clients for attorneys, the charges said. A Police Department spokesman said Friday that both officers worked patrol in the Calumet District on the Far South Side and have been stripped of their police powers in light of the criminal charges. Records show Cadichon is an 18-year veteran of the force, while Tate has been an officer for 13 years. The FBI investigation into the traffic crash scam marked the latest in a long line of cases in which Chicago police offi- cers were charged with taking bribes for inside information. Several years ago, a federal investigation code-named Op- eration Tow Scam ensnared 11 officers as well as several tow truck drivers in a plot to steer work to bribe-paying drivers while shooing others away from accident scenes. Turn to Charges, Page 2 SCOTT OLSON/GETTY Former President Barack Obama speaks at the University of Illinois in Urbana on Friday. He accepted an award for ethics in government. CHICAGO SPORTS Assailing successor, GOP’s ‘fear and anger,’ he urges vote in fall By Dawn Rhodes dent’s leadership. Obama’s strong partisan rhet- tom, not the cause” of “a fear and and Rick Pearson Exhorting students to vote in oric and critique of the Trump an anger that’s rooted in our Chicago Tribune the November midterm elec- administration is at odds with the past” involving racial and econo- tions while presenting a Demo- long-standing tradition — one mic divisions that have been URBANA — Former Presi- cratic message, the former that even he acknowledged — exploited by politicians for years. dent Barack Obama used an home-state president repeat- which has former presidents “Appealing to tribe, appealing appearance at the University of edly chastised the current state remaining largely silent about to fear, pitting one group against Illinois on Friday to vilify Don- of GOP-led politics as not “nor- their successors. It also signals a another, telling people that or- ald Trump and the Republicans mal,” including an anonymous more active role for Obama on der and security will be restored who control Congress, calling White House administration of- the campaign trail on behalf of if it weren’t for those who don’t the GOP “radical” in using fear ficial’s recent description of a Democrats trying to win back the look like us, or don’t sound like and division to hold power group running government in House and Senate. under the controversial presi- spite of an impetuous Trump. Obama called Trump “a symp- Turn to Obama, Page 4 JOHN J. KIM/CHICAGO TRIBUNE Surgery likely for Sox phenom Preckwinkle exploring run for mayor Tear of elbow ligament could cost Kopech all of next season. Committee created to tee, which would be would come while she is There are several political ben- unveiled less than a on the ballot for a third efits of Preckwinkle quickly mak- help campaign decision week after Mayor Rahm term as the county’s ing the announcement and estab- Emanuel announced he chief executive. Preck- lishing a campaign committee. By Bill Ruthhart TOM SKILLING’S would not seek a third winkle, 71, defeated for- For one, it would allow her to WEATHER Chicago Tribune term, the sources said. mer Ald. Bob Fioretti in raise unlimited amounts of cam- By launching a political the March primary, col- paign cash toward a potential High 69 Cook County Board President fund for a possible bid, lecting 58 percent of the run. Unlike her county board Low 60 Toni Preckwinkle will announce Preckwinkle’s move vote. She is unopposed race, the state campaign contrib- Monday she is creating a cam- would represent the Preckwinkle in the November gen- ution limits in the mayor’s race Complete forecast paign committee to explore a strongest sign yet of any eral election. were lifted earlier this year after on back of A+E possible run for Chicago mayor, new candidate contemplating an Preckwinkle, who also is the millionaire businessman Willie sources familiar with her plans entry into the already crowded Cook County Democratic Party Wilson decided to self-fund his $2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 confirmed. mayoral field. chairwoman, plans to keep her campaign. elsewhere. 171st year No. 251 Preckwinkle has spent the last A campaign representative did position as Cook County board Another benefit: Making her © Chicago Tribune two days calling community not immediately respond to a president if she were to pursue a mayoral intentions known now members and potential campaign request seeking comment. run for mayor, according to a would give Preckwinkle a head donors and asking them to join or The Hyde Park Democrat’s source who spoke directly with support her exploratory commit- exploration of a mayoral run Preckwinkle about her plans. Turn to Preckwinkle, Page 2 2 Chicago Tribune | Section 1 | Saturday, September 8, 2018 Superintendent: Charges a ‘disgraceful abuse’ if true Charges , from Page 1 thing we do.” the charges. their legal matters,” accord- through October 2014, in- window into their arms, Burton allegedly paid a “Officers are not permit- ing to the site. cluding one instance of al- according to a Tribune re- Police Superintendent total of at least $7,350 to ted to access or disclose Calls to Burton’s home leged excessive force that port. Eddie Johnson released a Cadichon and at least anoth- information contained in and business were not an- was ruled unfounded. In Cadichon, meanwhile, statement Friday calling the er $6,000 to Tate in return traffic crash reports for swered Friday. His attorney, 2006, Tate was given a has had 14 citizen com- allegations against Tate and for their supplying details non-law enforcement pur- Jonathan Bedi, declined to reprimand for allowing a plaints from 1999 to 2014, Cadichon, if proved, a “dis- on accident victims from poses,” the charges said. comment. prisoner under his watch to ranging from personnel vio- graceful abuse” of what police reports, the indict- The National Attorney Public records do not escape, records show. A lations to excessive force. most officers dedicate their ments alleged. The pay- Referral Service is “a public indicate if Tate or Cadichon year later, he was sus- None of the complaints was lives to. ments were allegedly made service network” that pro- have hired attorneys. pended for 10 days for sustained by the city’s “The most important in cash and by wire transfer. vides nearly 25,000 attor- The conspiracy charge violating the department’s much-maligned oversight thing that any police officer While crash reports in ney referrals to members of carries a maximum penalty medical roll policy. agency, according to re- strives for in their career is Chicago are typically not the public each year, ac- of five years in prison, while In 2014, he was hailed as cords available to the Trib- earning the trust and confi- publicly available until after cording to the company’s the bribery charge is pun- a hero by department brass une.