UPDATE: Motion granted. U.S. District Judge April Perry extends briefing on whether there should be a special counsel in the "Broadview Six" case until Aug. 18. So don't expect a ruling before mid/late August, at the earliest.

NEW: U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman denies a bid by ex-Loretto Hospital CFO Anosh Ahmed for a hearing — or dismissal of charges — over alleged misconduct by Chicago feds. She says he can try again if he returns to the USA to face charges. Ruling: cst.brightspotcdn.com/3c/bc/d8821c...

After a surprisingly emotional debate, Chicago’s City Council joined the chorus demanding the resignation of U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. From Fran Spielman, via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...

Federal prosecutors in Chicago are again asking for more time to respond to a request from members of the "Broadview Six" for a special counsel to investigate U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and others. If granted, this likely pushes Judge April Perry's ruling into mid-August.

Judge gives ex-suburban Chicago police chief three years in bribery plot: 'You sounded like a gangster' From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-corr...

JUST IN: Federal judge gives ex-Summit police chief John Kosmowski three years in prison for bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. “There must be something in the water in Lake Michigan that makes Chicago a breeding ground for corruption.” ~ Judge Steven Seeger.

Senators considering whether to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general asked him today about ex-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot — but not about the DOJ credibility crisis swirling around the city's federal courthouse. @tinasfon.bsky.social reports: chicago.suntimes.com/us-senate/20...

Nearly six months after Mayor Brandon Johnson ordered Chicago police to investigate alleged abuses by federal agents, it’s unclear what the decree has accomplished or what more needs to be done to enforce it. From @mariahwoelfel.bsky.social and @wbez.org: www.wbez.org/politics/202...

New: Members of the "Broadview 6" cite Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros' offer to Judge Perry to "come back and explain," and they suggest he join in their request for a hearing to get to the bottom of alleged misconduct in their case. Full filing: cst.brightspotcdn.com/76/d7/92ece2...

In first Midway Blitz sentencing, feds want 30-month prison term for man who fired gun near immigration agents From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

JUST IN: Judge Mary Rowland grants compassionate release to fraudster Yale Schiff, who questioned grand jury proceedings in this Sheri Mecklenburg case. Despite being "deeply troubled," Rowland "trusts that the government takes seriously its duty of candor" and will be consistent going forward.

Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros stood, and listened, as a judge said his press conference with top DOJ officials led to a "clear" violation of her seal order. Boutros dodged sanctions. But other controversies loom. UPDATED from @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

One week after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would consider a challenge to assault-weapons bans, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sides with Gov. JB Pritzker and finds Illinois' ban is consistent with tradition. Full filing: cst.brightspotcdn.com/90/d2/c9610c...

First pass on today's hearing: Judge finds Chicago's embattled U.S. attorney violated secrecy order in Tren de Aragua case but orders no sanction From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally just took the bench for this hearing regarding potential seal order violations by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.

While we wait for today's hearing, some background about what led to U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally summoning U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to court. Here's how McNally summed up July 1 from her point of view. It's the same day Boutros discussed details of this case at a DC press conference:

Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros explained to a judge on Wednesday that he didn't mean to violate one of her orders. He wrote, "there is no need for a further hearing." U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally apparently disagreed. Boutros is due in court at 10: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Illinois Rep. Carol Ammons indicted by federal grand jury on wire fraud charges @mitchtrout.bsky.social reports: chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/...

Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros still due in court Thursday after failing to convince judge to cancel hearing From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

A federal judge gave a suburban Chicago man more than 3 years in prison for threatening President Donald Trump and others, saying she found it “rich” that prosecutors sought a stiffer sentence after Trump pardoned Jan. 6 rioters. From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...

UPDATE: U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally tells Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, "The motion is denied." Tomorrow's hearing is still on.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros argues that he believed the press conference he attended in DC with Acting AG Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel complied with the seal order because it was "for the purpose of facilitating 'the enforcement of criminal law.'"

JUST IN: Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros asks U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally to call off tomorrow's hearing, in which he's been summoned into court over "potential violations" of a seal order. Full filing: cst.brightspotcdn.com/8f/a5/57b15e...

The feds just made it official: They won't fight a bid by members of the "Broadview 6" for attorneys' fees. They do "not concede that the United States has acted or done anything to warrant those fees." They also say there should be no discovery. Full filing: cst.brightspotcdn.com/dc/d1/e34a37...

By Dawn's Early Light. This morning in Chicago on Independence Day, America 250.

Two Chicago police officers shot in South Shore From @vimiller.bsky.social and @kyrasenese.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/07/03/t...

NEW: Magistrate judge orders Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros into court over "potential violations" of seal order in case touted by top DOJ officials. From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Outgoing Chicago FBI chief tells team to 'keep the FBI mission alive' as speculation swirls about his exit From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Lawsuits seek to hold Midway Blitz agents accountable in lieu of state charges David Struett reporting for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Justice Department announces more than 175 charges, 300 fugitive arrests in Chicago-area crime sweep From Kade Heather, via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

Chicago's outgoing FBI boss wrote that “being a leader means stepping up when things are hard.” He said he "never backed down from a fight." But “that has proven unpopular … my departure is a consequence." From @chicago.suntimes.com on Douglas DePodesta's exit: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

UPDATE: At the request of the feds, U.S. District Judge April Perry gives prosecutors until July 21 to respond a series of motions, including the request for a special counsel, in the "Broadview Six" case. Briefing now extends into August, so we're unlikely to see a ruling before then.

UPDATE: The FBI's rapid response Twitter account replied tonight to a post by Kyle Seraphin about the outgoing Chicago FBI chief. Our @chicago.suntimes.com story is here: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Chicago FBI boss Douglas S. DePodesta will leave his job after the Fourth of July holiday, an unexpected move causing further tumult in the city’s federal law enforcement community, the @chicago.suntimes.com has learned. chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

UPDATE: Judge Holleb Hotaling has agreed to a "brief" delay of tomorrow's sanctions hearing. She gives defense attorneys until 7/10 to file their own brief and promises to reset the hearing "as appropriate."

This hearing over whether fraudster Yale Schiff should be released from prison is getting underway. It's another case once handled by AUSA Sheri Mecklenburg. Schiff's defense attorney, who has raised questions about the grand jury, is Chris Parente. He also represents a Broadview 6 defendant.

Federal prosecutors in Chicago say U.S. Magistrate Judge Keri Holleb Hotaling has no authority to hold a planned sanctions hearing Thursday tied to an ATF sting. They also say the "presumption of regularity" is "entitled to adherence and respect." Full filing: cst.brightspotcdn.com/78/e4/f80a1b...

U.S. Supreme Court will hear challenge to Cook County assault weapons ban. And it could rule around the five-year anniversary of the Highland Park parade shooting. From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/us-supreme-c...

Chicago man linked to alleged plot to attack White House UFC event ordered held in jail From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

JUST IN: A federal magistrate judge says he will order detained a Chicago man accused of obstruction of justice in connection with an alleged plot to attack the UFC event at the White House.

A detention hearing is underway for Alexander Iniguez Mercado, the Chicago man charged with obstruction of justice in connection with an alleged planned attack on the UFC event at the White House. U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes is on the bench.

DEVELOPING: U.S. Supreme Court will hear challenge to Cook County assault weapons ban From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/us-supreme-c...

#BREAKING U.S. Supreme Court says it will hear a challenge to Cook County's assault weapons ban:

Four days later, U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland has scheduled a hearing Wednesday over Yale Schiff's motion for compassionate release. "AUSA [Minje] Shin is directed to attend," she writes. Shin filed the brief outlining the feds' lack of objection to Schiff's request.

There have been plenty twists and turns in Chicago's federal courthouse since the "Broadview Six" case collapsed in late May. It's been a lot to keep up with. So here's where things stand, one month later, via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

A Chicago man is charged in connection with an alleged "violent attack" on the White House UFC event. But his defense attorney says he "basically freaked" after the FBI came calling — and he deleted his Signal app. UPDATED story w/ @sophiesherry.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

So, the FBI alleges it had info that Mercado was a member and admin of these Signal messaging groups. An agent called to ask him about it, and shortly thereafter Mercado allegedly deleted Signal from his phone. That seems to sum it up. Here's the statute at play: www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...

Chicago man charged in relation to planned attack against White House UFC event on Trump's birthday DEVELOPING from @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

This indictment seems to allege, specifically, that Alexander Iniguez Mercado committed obstruction of justice "by uninstalling the Signal application" from his phone:

#BREAKING: A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with "the planning of a violent attack targeting an Ultimate Fighting Championship" event at the White House. Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, is charged with obstruction of justice.