Foxx Won't Debate O'Brien, Fears 'Trump-Like Name Calling'

CHICAGO — Democrat Kim Foxx declined an invitation to debate the Republican challenger Pat O’Brien in the contentious Cook County State’s Attorney’s race. The incumbent expressed concerns over “Trump-like name calling and fearmongering,” in a statement from her campaign.

Defending her decision to not publicly debate her opponent, Foxx accused O'Brien —elected as a judge as a Democrat in 2006 — as being aligned with Trump and called him a liar. Her campaign staffer alluded to Tuesday’s presidential debate debacle.

“This is our problem with Mr. O'Brien. He just lies,” Foxx said in a written statement. “This is profoundly dangerous, when we have misinformation campaigns around the country attempting to drown out democratic voices, norms, and institutions.”

O’Brien has called Foxx a “social worker” and “cheerleader for criminals,” claiming Cook County residents have become less safe since she became Cook County State’s Attorney in 2016. Foxx’s campaign denied those assertions.

He’s also blamed Foxx for implementing weakened prosecutorial policies, in which assistant state’s attorneys sit silently in bond court as violent or repeat offenders are released on electronic monitoring or low cash bonds, according to public statements.

“The State’s Attorney’s Office does not let individuals off on I-bonds — it is not within her purview,” the statement continued. “Ultimately, these Trump-like ‘win at all costs, even when the proof is in front of your face’ strategies are dangerous for our criminal justice system and our democracy.”

The debate, scheduled for mid-October hosted on ABC-7 and other groups, was called off earlier this week. O’Brien called Foxx’s turndown “a disservice to the voters of Cook County.”

O’Brien said throughout his career in the legal profession as a prosecutor, assistant attorney general and judge no one has questioned his temperament until Foxx went on the defensive for her policies.

“If you take the time to look at the editorial board interviews we have done together, you will see that I have been respectful but very direct and strong in my arguments against her failed policies in a professional manner,” he said. “She is the only one who has resorted to a less than professional demeanor and resorted to this smear campaign.”

“I say let the voters decide who has the ability and temperament to lead that office.”