C Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Saturday, November 10, 2018 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com Trump on acting AG: I do not know him He claims ignorance as concerns rise on pick’s business ties, remarks By Eric Tucker and Jonathan Lemire Associated Press WASHINGTON — Matthew Whitaker’s future at the helm of the Justice Department appeared uncertain Friday as President Donald Trump denied even knowing the man he had named acting attorney general just two days earlier. The Senate’s top Republican predicted a permanent replace- ment could be named soon for Whitaker, who is now over- seeing the Trump-Russia probe. The com- ments from Trump and Senate Major- ity Leader Mitch Mc- Whitaker Connell came as Whitaker’s past business ties ZBIGNIEW BZDAK/CHICAGO TRIBUNE and remarks on special counsel A volunteer memorial squad marches after conducting a 21-gun salute during a military funeral for Army veteran Michael Berilla, 74, on Robert Mueller’s Russia investi- Friday at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. A proposed veterans cemetery in South Barrington has met with opposition. gation and other topics were drawing scrutiny from Demo- crats and ethics groups. Speaking to reporters Friday, Trump said, “I don’t know Matt Whitaker.” That contradicted Trump’s re- Cemetery proposal marks on Fox News last month, when he called Whitaker “a great guy” and said, “I mean, I know Matt Whitaker.” McConnell, meanwhile, said, “I think this will be a very interim comes with subplots AG.” Another Republican senator, Susan Collins of Maine, said she As part of expansion of military resting places for cremated remains, the VA is planning was concerned by some of Whita- ker’s past comments and called a site on 15 acres in South Barrington, but neighbors worry about gun salutes, property values for legislation that would place limits on his ability to fire special counsel Mueller. That would in- By Ted Gregory “In the era of mass shootings and mated remains. clude specifying that only a Sen- Chicago Tribune New columbaria are ate-confirmed Justice Depart- active shooter drills, the last thing you planned for the Los Angeles, ment official, which Whitaker is On the Thursday night be- Indianapolis, San Francisco not, could dismiss Mueller. fore Veterans Day, a meeting want for the kids is to hear gunshots and New York City areas, said Whitaker, a Republican Party room at a Hoffman Estates Glenn Madderom, chief of loyalist and former chief of staff to hotel was reserved for public close to their house.” cemetery development for the just-ousted Attorney General Jeff comment on a proposed mili- — Adam Stec, of South Barrington National Cemetery Adminis- Sessions, was elevated Wednes- tary veterans cemetery in tration, part of the Department day after his boss was forced from neighboring South Barrington. of Veterans Affairs. his job by Trump. They needed a bigger room. hearing. Rather, he said, the and active shooter drills, the Their aim is to make access The new position handed him More than 100 people plan would create issues for last thing you want for the kids easier for veterans’ families in oversight of Mueller’s investiga- jammed the space, spilling into both neighborhood residents is to hear gunshots close to urban areas across the country tion into possible ties between the hallway. And the over- and veterans’ families. their house,” said Stec, father of and accommodate increasing Russia and Trump’s 2016 presi- whelming sentiment expressed Rifle salutes at military fu- two small children. numbers of veterans choosing dential campaign. toward the cemetery might nerals would traumatize kids in The uproar over 15 acres on cremation, Madderom said. Since Wednesday, Whitaker come as a surprise: not in my the neighborhood next to the the corner of Freeman and Developed as a branch of has faced pressure from Demo- backyard. proposed cemetery, Stec said. Mundhank roads, about 35 Abraham Lincoln National crats to recuse himself from “Nobody’s against veterans At the same time, noise from miles northwest of Chicago, Cemetery in Elwood, south of overseeing Mueller based on here or a veterans cemetery,” the residential area — like from has arisen as the Department of Joliet, the South Barrington critical comments he made about Adam Stec, whose South Bar- children playing outside — Veterans Affairs is working on a columbarium would include the investigation before joining rington home is 80 yards from might disrupt the tranquility of nationwide expansion of mili- about 5,000 niches, or cube- the Justice Department last year. the proposed cemetery’s prop- the cemetery. tary columbaria, which are erty line, said at the public “In the era of mass shootings final resting places for cre- Turn to Cemetery, Page 4 Turn to Trump, Page 5 Judge orders transgender CHICAGO SPORTS Man slain on porch training for state prison staff in West Rogers Park Action follows suit by This week, a federal judge in southern Illinois ordered state Moved to city from North Talman Avenue to Pres- inmate seeking move prison officials to re-evaluate ence St. Francis Hospital in to women’s facility Hampton’s previously denied Sudan 15 years ago Evanston. He was pronounced request for transfer — and also seeking a better life dead minutes after midnight, By Angie Leventis mandated that the agency de- according to the Cook County Lourgos velop training on transgender By Hannah Leone medical examiner’s office. Chicago Tribune issues for all staff. Chicago Tribune “He missed his family back An attorney representing home, so we are his family here,” The transgender woman de- Hampton called the order a Leaving behind so many said Adel Sobhi, who consid- scribed feeling like a “sex slave” victory for all incarcerated loved ones was difficult, but Ali ered Khabab his older brother. while incarcerated at transgender women. Khabab had aspirations — and Better opportunities drew several men’s prisons “This is an impor- cousins in Chicago. Khabab to the United States, across Illinois, claim- tant step, not only for He said goodbye to his family where he earned his GED be- ing repeated abuse Strawberry but in gen- and friends in what is now fore enrolling in college classes, and sexual assaults eral for transgender BRIAN CASSELLA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE South Sudan 15 years ago and Sobhi said. involving guards and women imprisoned found a new home in one of the The two met in 2012 while inmates, according to across the nation,” said Epstein denies city’s most diverse neighbor- working at the same grocery court documents. Vanessa del Valle, an hoods, West Rogers Park. store on Howard Street in Rog- Deon “Strawberry” attorney with the Mac- Bryant on the block It was there, on his back ers Park. For nearly three years Hampton has sued Arthur Justice Center, porch, that he was gunned it would often be just them in the Illinois Depart- Hampton which represents A recent report on ESPN.com down just before 11 p.m. Thurs- the store. They became close, ment of Corrections Hampton. said it was possible the Cubs day. Two people walked up and Sobhi said. Outside of work they multiple times in the past year As part of the order, U.S. could trade star third baseman at least one of them fired shots, enjoyed hanging out together, seeking a rarely issued transfer District Court Judge Nancy Kris Bryant, “perhaps as soon as hitting Khabab, 33, in the back, getting dinner or coffee or to a women’s prison, where she Rosenstengel on Wednesday this winter.” Friday, Cubs Presi- police said. playing video games, mostly believes she would be safer as said Hampton also must be dent Theo Epstein downplayed An ambulance took him the 3 FIFA. she serves a 10-year sentence the rumor that Bryant was avail- miles from the red brick apart- for burglary. Turn to Transgender, Page 5 able via trade. ments in the 6100 block of Turn to Shooting, Page 4 Chicago Weather Center: Complete $2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 elsewhere High Low Tom Skilling’s forecast 31 24 forecast on back of Chicago Sports 171st year No. 314 © Chicago Tribune 2 Chicago Tribune | Section 1 | Saturday, November 10, 2018 CHICAGO TRIBUNE BOOKS “Ask Tom Why.” Covering everything weather-related, Bells to ring Sunday to mark 100th from the mundane to the anomalous, in a way that is easy for readers to understand, this Tom Skilling collection answers questions ranging from storms and inclement weather to the sun, moon and sky to temperature and anniversary of World War I armistice humidity. All Chicago Tribune print books are available online at By Katie Galioto chicagotribune.com/printbooks Chicago Tribune On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in WINNING LOTTERY NUMBERS 1918, bells rang around the world. ILLINOIS INDIANA Nov. 9 Nov. 9 The war was over. The Mega Millions ......................................... Daily 3 midday ......................... 768 / 6 fighting had stopped. The 08 14 27 57 67 / 5 Daily 4 midday ....................... 0700 / 6 boys were coming home. Mega Millions jackpot: $90M Daily 3 evening ......................... 848 / 1 Bells across the globe will Pick 3 midday .......................... 111 / 7 Daily 4 evening ...................... 9386 / 1 Pick 4 midday ........................ 3724 / 9 Cash 5 ........................... 07 19 26 29 37 toll again Sunday, 100 years Lucky Day Lotto midday ..................... after the signing of the 05 12 14 36 42 MICHIGAN armistice and the end of Pick 3 evening .......................... 981 / 2 Nov. 9 World War I. On all U.S. Pick 4 evening ....................... 6285 / 0 Daily 3 midday ............................... 531 Lucky Day Lotto evening .................... Daily 4 midday ............................. 6842 Navy and Marine ships and 23 27 41 42 44 Daily 3 evening ..............................