Chicago City Wire

Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lausch is leaving the Department of Justice just after suggesting special counsel further investigate the handling of documents by President Joe Biden.

Lausch’s date of departure was only noted as early 2023.

Attorney General Merrick Garland noted Lausch’s departure during a press conference saying it “would be unable to accept any longer-term assignment because he would be leaving the Department [of Justice] in early 2023 for the private sector.”

The case mirrors an investigation into former President Donald Trump, whose Florida home was raided earlier this year. Many are questioning the treatment Trump has received in comparison to Biden.

Lausch’s departure leaves two high-profile cases in a lurch, that of former State House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and 14th Ward Alderman Edward M. Burke.

Madigan awaits trial on 23 counts of public corruption, including bribery in relation to the treatment given to ComEd and AT&T.

Burke is under indictment for racketeering after allegedly shaking down a fast-food restaurant seeking to open in the city.

Lausch was appointed as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois by Trump in 2017.

Former U.S. Attorney from Maryland Robert Hur was announced as the special counsel in the matter. Hur is a Trump appointee who left office in 2021.

“Under the regulations, the extraordinary circumstances here require the appointment of a special counsel for this matter,” Garland said in the press conference.

“This appointment underscores for the public the department’s commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters and to make decisions indisputably guided only by the facts, and the law.”

The Biden documents incident recalls Biden’s comments over a trove of secret documents President Donald Trump in a 60 Minutes interview.

“How that could possibly happen,” Biden said at the time.

“How one – anyone could be that irresponsible. And I thought what data was in there that may compromise sources and methods? By that I mean names of people who helped or – et cetera. And it just – totally irresponsible.”