Federal judge might still sanction Anjanette Young’s lawyer

A federal judge said Tuesday he is considering sanctions against Anjanette Young’s lawyer for releasing video of the infamous botched raid on Young’s home to the media, even though City Hall took back its request that he be punished for violating a confidentiality order.

U.S. District Judge John Tharp made his comments during a hearing in which Young’s attorney, Keenan Saulter, admitted he released the videos to the press. He said he realized he made a mistake last week after reading a transcript of a February hearing in which the judge said the footage would be turned over to him but only for use in a civil lawsuit, “not in creating publicity for the case or arguing the case in the media.”

“I should have handled this situation differently,” Saulter told the judge Tuesday. “I am truly sorry.”

Tharp gave Saulter and his attorneys until Jan. 8 to provide more information about the situation to him in writing. Prompted by questions from Saulter about whether the judge was considering civil or criminal contempt, Tharp said his “concern is not compensation to the city.” It’s “compliance with and enforcement” of the court’s orders.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Monday the Chicago police officers involved in the 2019 raid have all been assigned to desk duty as the CPD’s watchdog agency investigates.

A day earlier, she received the resignation of Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner, announcing that Celia Meza would lead the Law Department on an interim basis. Meza had been the mayor’s counsel and senior ethics adviser. During Tuesday’s hearing, Meza asked the judge not to sanction Saulter.

Monday evening, the mayor’s office said two more Law Department employees — Deputy Corporation Counsel Caryn Jacobs and Director of Public Affairs Kathleen Fieweger — were also no longer employed by the city.

In February 2019, Chicago police wrongly raided Young’s Near West Side home. It wasn’t until earlier this month that the raid came to light when Lightfoot’s Law Department attempted to block CBS Channel 2 from airing body camera footage showing a naked and handcuffed Young telling officers more than 40 times they had the wrong home.

The city sought sanctions against Young’s lawyer but took back the request Friday.

Contributing: Sam Charles