SAM ADAMS expresses support for Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Donna More (left) at WVON this week.
Cites her experience and independence
Famed criminal defense attorney Sam Adam, Jr. recently endorsed Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Donna More, who has been both an assistant states attorney and an assistant U.S. attorney.
In endorsing More, Adam said she “has what it takes. She has the experience and to me the most important…people got to do their own thinking and be educated on this. The most important thing we can have with experience is independence where you are not doing what somebody tells you. You’re doing the right thing even when you have to go against the grain. You have to do the right thing.
“I am convinced that Donna has the experience especially as a federal prosecutor to come in here and do what is needed.
“The states attorney does two things—keeps our citizens safe and keeps the county viable. If you want people to come in here and invest in this city, invest their time and their children…, it is the states attorney who is going to keep them safe, and you have to do it transparently and you have to do it independently.” Adam said that is why he is backing More for states attorney.
More stresses her independence.
“I am not beholden to any politician who can say to me hide this videotape or don’t indict or do indict this case. That is the most important thing we can have in this office right now,” she said.
Referring to the Laquan McDonald case, More said, “Everybody’s calling for an independent special prosecutor, but neither of my two opponents are independent. The most important thing is my experience and my independence.”
More is referring to Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and candidate Kim Foxx, who has been endorsed by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle.
When told that many say she is politically controlled by Governor Bruce Rauner, More quickly clarified that allegation. “In the last gubernatorial election, we had no choice in the Democratic primary because we have to give Democrats good choices.
“Like many other Democrats, I wrote a check to Bruce Rauner. In hindsight, I have regrets because I thought he would go to Springfield and in more of the Thompson-like era work together with our other legislative leaders and actually get something done. I regret to see that is not happening….”
More said there is not enough transparency in the state’s attorney’s office.
More said she was not in the state’s attorney’s office when the McDonald case occurred, but she said she would have indicted officer Jason Van Dyke within weeks and not wait 400 days as Anita Alvarez did.
“I would have looked at the tape. I would have seen this officer put 16 rounds into McDonald’s body, 14 after he was already on the ground. That would have been enough for me to charge that case. This case would have been indicted within weeks, not months,” said More.
