Overview
- A Cook County judge denied the petition on Thursday, May 21, 2026, to appoint an independent special prosecutor to investigate alleged federal agent misconduct during Operation Midway Blitz.
- The judge called the commission’s allegations that agents used excessive force and unprovoked violence compelling and said court protocol for handling such claims was not followed.
- Petitioners argued Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke had a disqualifying relationship with federal agencies, but the judge found the evidence did not prove abandonment of duty or an actual conflict of interest.
- The Illinois Accountability Commission produced a detailed report that referred footage and witness accounts to local law enforcement, but the panel had no subpoena power and many federal officials did not cooperate; the Illinois State Police are investigating the Franklin Park fatal shooting from September 2025.
- Any criminal charges now hinge on finished local law‑enforcement probes and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s charging decisions, a process that could delay accountability and prolong uncertainty for victims and communities.