In another jaw-dropping and ridiculous decision Wednesday, the same Illinois prosecutor in Chicago that allowed hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett to get away with making false claims was allowing five gang members to go free after being involved in a shootout that was captured on video. But keeping with their summer trend of largely downplaying skyrocketing violence and murder in American cities, the broadcast networks completely ignored the story.
Instead of covering Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx allowing known gang members to walk, CBS Evening News celebrated the owner of an air filter company getting people to buy his products in bulk to make their own COVID box-fan filters. Over in ABC’s World News Tonight, they were busy talking about the weather and singer Tina Turner selling her music catalog. And on NBC Nightly News, they were praising Netflix's original Squid Game.
Of course, it was up to Fox News Channel to bring national attention to an important story the broadcast networks wanted to be kept on the down-low.
“Chicago's mayor is warning of severe consequences if the city does not hold gang members accountable for their crimes. This comes after a prominent prosecutor refused to bring charges against five men over a shootout in broad daylight,” announced Special Report fill-in anchor Mike Emanuel.
The details of the shootout were reported by national correspondent Garrett Tenney. “Five gang members back on the streets after the Cooke County state's attorney chose not to file any charges in a Friday shootout that was captured on a city surveillance camera,” he reported.
Adding: “You can see the gun battle erupt after two cars pulled up outside the home on the city's west side. Four people with modified, fully-automatic handguns opened fire on gang members of a rival faction. More than 70 shots were fired between the groups in the roughly 10 seconds it took for two squad cars to show up. One person died, two were injured. Five were arrested. And zero were charged.”
He also highlighted the back and forth sniping between Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) and Foxx:
LIGHTFOOT: We cannot send a message that it's okay and you get a pass that you shoot up a residence in broad daylight, captured on film, and no consequences will happen for you. That can't be a world that we live in.
(…)
FOXX: Our number one concern should be about getting those people prosecuted. Not a headline diverting attention away from the fact that we have not had a comprehensive plan for violence in the city of Chicago.
“As this blame game plays out. Chicago's epidemic of violent crime continues and is on track to make this year the city's deadliest in a quarter-century,” he concluded.
The omission of Chicago releasing known gang members involved in a shootout were made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from United Healthcare on ABC, Progressive on CBS, and Ford Motor Company on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
October 6, 2021
6:15:29 p.m. EasternMIKE EMANUEL: Chicago's mayor is warning of severe consequences if the city does not hold gang members accountable for their crimes. This comes after a prominent prosecutor refused to bring charges against five men over a shootout in broad daylight. Correspondent Garrett Tenney reports tonight from Chicago.
[Cuts to video]
GARRETT TENNEY: Five gang members back on the streets after the Cooke County state's attorney chose not to file any charges in a Friday shootout that was captured on a city surveillance camera.
You can see the gun battle erupt after two cars pulled up outside the home on the city's west side. Four people with modified fully-automatic handguns opened fire on gang members of a rival faction. More than 70 shots were fired between the groups in the roughly 10 seconds it took for two squad cars to show up. One person died, two were injured. Five were arrested. And zero were charged.
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot is demanding answers from Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT (D): We cannot send a message that it's okay and you get a pass that you shoot up a residence in broad daylight, captured on film, and no consequences will happen for you. That can't be a world that we live in.
TENNEY: Kim Foxx argues her office couldn't bring charges because none of the witnesses would cooperate, and that her video evidence alone wasn't enough.
STATE’s ATTORNEY KIM FOXX (Cook County): Our number one concern should be about getting those people prosecuted. Not a headline diverting attention away from the fact that we have not had a comprehensive plan for violence in the city of Chicago.
TENNEY: But criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Bob Bianchi says it's ludicrous that Foxx didn't bring any charges against the gangsters and let them walk free.
ROBERT BIANCHI: As a prosecutor, your obligation is protection of community. You know these are identified gang members. You know they are capable of serious violence. You get them on any charge you can while you are building up a case.
[Cuts back to live]
TENNEY: As this blame game plays out. Chicago's epidemic of violent crime continues and is on track to make this year the city's deadliest in a quarter century. Mike?
EMANUEL: Garrett Tenney in Chicago. Thanks A lot.
