U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee told Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s lawyers she has until the end of the week to clarify her policy only allowing journalists of color to interview her.
From The Daily Caller:
During the Monday hearing related to a suit brought by the Daily Caller News Foundation and Judicial Watch, U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee ordered Lightfoot’s office to file within the week a declaration under oath about whether the mayor’s policy allowing interviews solely to journalists of color is still in effect or will be in effect in the future. The suit alleged that Thomas Catenacci, a reporter for the DCNF, was denied an interview with Lightfoot after repeated inquiries to her office.Judicial Watch sought an injunction last week asking the court to immediately end Lightfoot’s policy, but the mayor’s lawyers argued in the hearing Monday that it was unnecessary, saying the policy is not currently in effect. The plaintiffs disagreed, arguing that the mayor has not provided any evidence of that.“There is no evidence that this policy is not in effect,” an attorney for Judicial Watch said, adding that Lightfoot’s office “hasn’t provided any non-racial reason as to why the interview has not been granted.”An attorney for Lightfoot’s office responded that “the plaintiff has no evidence this policy is in effect.” Lawyers for Judicial Watch replied that “there have been no statements or sworn testimony that the stated policy was rescinded.”
In mid-May, Lightfoot decided she would only grant interviews to “Black or Brown journalists.”
The Daily Caller News Foundation and Judicial Watch sued Lightfoot for racial discrimination after reporter Thomas Catenacci alleged Lightfoot denied him an interview after numerous inquiries to her office.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY