CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot said a lawsuit alleging she berated Chicago Park District lawyers in offensive terms is “wholly without merit” and said she has no animus toward Italian Americans.
“I am aware of the lawsuit that has been filed by a former Chicago Park District employee. While I will continue my practice of not commenting on the specific claims alleged in pending litigation, I feel compelled to state that the deeply offensive and ridiculous claims are wholly lacking in merit, and I welcome the opportunity to prove that fact in court,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “Furthermore, to be clear, I never have and never will harbor any animus toward Italians or Italian Americans.”
Lightfoot released the statement a day after the Tribune reported on a lawsuit brought by former Chicago Park District deputy general counsel George Smyrniotis against the city. Lightfoot did not hold any public media availabilities on Thursday and ignored questions about the lawsuit outside a downtown restaurant.
