Top Chicago Prosecutor Zachary Fardon Resigns As U.S. Attorney

By Stephen Gossett in News on Mar 13, 2017 9:47PM

Zachary Fardon / Getty Images / Photo: Scott Olson

Chicago's top prosecutor is officially out. U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon resigned on Monday, according to multiple reports, paving the way for Joel Levin to serve in the interim until a permanent successor is named.

Fardon is one of 46 U.S. attorneys, all appointed during former president Obama's administration, who were asked to step down by the office of Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday. Such a purge of previous-administration attorneys is common, but the abrupt nature of the Sessions' call raised several eyebrows last week. As the L.A. Times noted, the Attorneys General who served under Obama and George W. Bush looked to stagger the resignations and replacements over the course of multiple months.

Fardon served in his post since October, 2013. Over that time, his office presided over several high-profile cases, including the indictment of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert—who attempted to bribe a man he was alleged to have sexually abused years prior—and former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd Bennett—who pleaded guilty to a million-dollar kickback scheme.

One of Fardon's most prominent acts of legal oversight was also one of his most recent. He helped lead the Department of Justice's yearlong investigation of the Chicago Police Department, launched in the wake of the Laquan McDonald uproar. Fardon at the time called the findings of the probe "historic," saying "history is made, and it couldn’t come at a more important time." The DOJ determined that CPD engaged in a pattern or practice of using force that violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.

Fardon is replaced, for the moment, by Joel Levin, who was first assistant since 2014 prior to assuming his role as acting U.S. attorney for the states' Northern District.

As the Tribune points out, the search for a long-term successor for the role will likely be spearheaded by GOP Congressman John Shimkus, of Illinois 15th congressional district, in the southeastern quarter of the state.