Kim Foxx opts out of upcoming debate, accuses rival of using ‘Trump-like name calling and fear mongering’

Incumbent Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has withdrawn from an upcoming debate after she accused her Republican rival Pat O’Brien of “Trump-like name calling and fear mongering” during recent editorial board interviews — a move her opponent called a “disservice.”

As each candidate argued their case to be Cook County’s top prosecutor, Foxx’ spokesperson Alex Sims on Wednesday accused O’Brien of calling the incumbent a “cheerleader of criminals” and a “social worker” in his interview with the Daily Herald.

That’s why, Sims said, Foxx has decided to pull out of next month’s debate hosted by ABC7 and several other groups.

“We learned during the recent Ed board interviews that the State’s Attorney participated in with Mr. O’Brien, that he will instead use the time for Trump-like name calling and fear mongering,” Sims said in a statement. “During this nationwide crisis, she will not sit across the stage from a Republican that exploits tragedy to win a campaign. We had plenty of that last night. Voters deserve better.”

Tuesday’s debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden turned into a chaotic shouting match, where the two candidates spent more time yelling over one another than discussing key issues.

O’Brien called the move “a disservice to the people of Cook County.”

“It seems to me that the voters have a right in this kind of setting to hear both of us answer questions and challenge each other on our answers,” O’Brien said. “She’s relying on the fact that this is a Democratic county and that ‘D’ beside her name will probably mean more votes.”

Though Foxx has declined to debate O’Brien on ABC7, she will still participate in an interview with the TV station, Sims said.

No word yet on whether Foxx will participate in another debate scheduled with WTTW on Oct. 26.

The candidates have already debated each other before the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune.