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  "path": "/politics/2026/07/01/chicago-fbi-chief-depodesta-leaving-unexpectedly-ongoing-credibility-crisis-federal-prosecutors-us-attorney",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-02T00:52:11.349Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>Chicago FBI boss Douglas<b> </b>S. DePodesta will leave his job after the Fourth of July holiday, an unexpected move causing further tumult in the city's federal law enforcement community, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.</p><p>His last day on the job will be Monday, according to a law enforcement source. </p><p>DePodesta led the agency's Chicago Field Office<b> </b>for nearly two years, taking<b> </b>the<b> </b>helm<b> </b>in<b> </b>August<b> </b>2024. He’s been with the FBI since 2002,<b> </b>and over the course of his career he’s worked investigations<b> </b>involving<b> </b>drugs, corruption, terrorism and foreign counterintelligence. He's repeatedly touted the value of partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement while serving as the FBI's special agent in charge.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-a50000\" name=\"image-a50000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/699621a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/795x446+22+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F42%2F130e5dca4ed09195fda4aa2d85b3%2Fddepodesta.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ffb19a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/795x446+22+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F42%2F130e5dca4ed09195fda4aa2d85b3%2Fddepodesta.png 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d335ffc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/795x446+22+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F42%2F130e5dca4ed09195fda4aa2d85b3%2Fddepodesta.png\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"DDepodesta.png\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d335ffc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/795x446+22+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F42%2F130e5dca4ed09195fda4aa2d85b3%2Fddepodesta.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ad7841d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/795x446+22+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F42%2F130e5dca4ed09195fda4aa2d85b3%2Fddepodesta.png 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d335ffc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/795x446+22+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F42%2F130e5dca4ed09195fda4aa2d85b3%2Fddepodesta.png\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>Douglas DePodesta, in a video from an FBI Chicago social media feed.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>FBI</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>During his tenure, the FBI saw the culmination of its long-running corruption investigation that ended <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/mike-madigan-guilty-verdict\" target=\"_blank\" >with the conviction</a><b> </b>and<b> </b>sentencing<b> </b>of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, now serving a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/06/13/mike-madigan-sentencing-hearing\" target=\"_blank\" >seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence</a><b> </b>in West Virginia. The FBI also led counter-terrorism efforts, leading in part to the conviction of a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2025/09/18/former-navy-sailor-gets-12-years-in-prison-for-plot-against-naval-station-great-lakes\" target=\"_blank\" >former Navy Sailor</a> who helped plan an attack on the Naval Station Great Lakes. </p><p>On Wednesday,<b> </b>it touted the arrest of an alleged member of the criminal cyber hacking group Scattered Spider.</p><p>“Thanks to our international partnerships and cross-agency collaboration, the FBI successfully identified a known Scattered Spider actor alleged to have targeted hardworking Americans and critical infrastructure,” DePodesta said in a press release Wednesday.</p><p>However, the FBI did not comment on the reason for DePodesta's sudden departure, and he could not be reached Wednesday. </p><p>His unexplained exit comes in the midst of a credibility crisis for U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, who appeared at a Washington, D.C., <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHHoESjfYrc\" target=\"_blank\" >press conference</a> Wednesday<b> </b>with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. It all started with the May 21 <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/21/broadview-ice-protest-grand-jury-transcript-kat-abughazaleh-trump\" target=\"_blank\" >collapse of the “Broadview Six”</a> prosecution, brought against a group of Operation Midway Blitz protesters. </p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/06/27/broadview-six-boutros-chicago\" >What to know about the ‘Broadview Six’ scandal rocking Chicago’s federal courthouse</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>The case imploded over <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/06/27/broadview-six-boutros-chicago\" target=\"_blank\" >allegations of prosecutor misconduct</a> before a grand jury that have led to calls not only for Boutros' resignation, but for a special counsel<b> </b>to investigate Boutros and others. Nancy<b> </b>DePodesta, an attorney for one of the defendants in the \"Broadview Six\" case,<b> </b>is<b> </b>Douglas<b> </b>DePodesta's<b> </b>sister-in-law. She did not comment Wednesday.</p><p>Boutros has promised \"sweeping\"<b> </b>grand jury reforms and a review of <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/06/22/broadview-six-damage-spreads-boutros-drops-more-charges-details-ongoing-review\" target=\"_blank\" >nearly 20<b> </b>years<b> </b>of<b> </b>work</a><b> </b>by <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/06/23/broadview-six-boutros-mecklenburg-loretto-hospital\" target=\"_blank\" >Sheri Mecklenburg</a>, the<b> </b>veteran<b> </b>federal<b> </b>prosecutor<b> </b>accused<b> </b>of<b> </b>misconduct<b> </b>before the grand jury. But<b> </b>that hasn't stopped judges from questioning the work of the feds in the six weeks since<b> </b>the \"Broadview Six\" case collapsed.</p><p>For example, U.S. Magistrate Judge Keri<b> </b>Holleb<b> </b>Hotaling<b> </b>has promised to hold a hearing to consider sanctions against the feds tied to the attempted robbery of undercover federal officers<b> </b>in Country Club Hills. Boutros' office <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/06/18/boutros-holleb-hotaling-atf-country-club-hills\" target=\"_blank\" >dropped charges related to the robbery</a>, at least temporarily,<b> </b>after a video<b> </b><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/06/19/shooting-fbi-atf-hotaling-boutros-country-club-hills\" target=\"_blank\" >raised doubts</a> about the accuracy<b> </b>of claims<b> </b>in a sworn affidavit. </p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/06/18/boutros-holleb-hotaling-atf-country-club-hills\" >Charges dropped in suburban ATF sting, further straining trust between Boutros’ office and judges</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>Prosecutors<b> </b>argued<b> </b>this week that Holleb Hotaling did not have authority to conduct the hearing, originally set for Thursday. The<b> </b>judge<b> </b>on<b> </b>Wednesday<b> </b>agreed<b> </b>to<b> </b>a<b> </b>\"brief\" delay<b> </b>of that hearing and<b> </b>sought<b> </b>input<b> </b>from defense attorneys.</p><p>That prosecution is not directly related to the \"Broadview Six,\" but Holleb Hotaling told<b> </b>lawyers<b> </b>June 18, \"this court is very concerned that I cannot rely on the information that is provided to me either from the U.S. Attorney's Office or from agents … when I'm swearing out an affidavit now, right?\" </p><p>Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Mary<b> </b>Rowland<b> </b>asked a prosecutor from Boutros' office on<b> </b>Wednesday<b> </b>whether he stood by the representations he made when he declined to oppose<b> </b>the compassionate release<b> </b>from prison<b> </b>of<b> </b>convicted<b> </b>fraud<b> </b>defendant<b> </b>Yale Schiff. </p><p>He is represented by Christopher<b> </b>Parente, another \"Broadview Six\" defense attorney who<b> </b>has now raised questions about the grand jury proceedings<b> </b>in Schiff's case. </p><p>Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje<b> </b>Shin<b> </b>said<b> </b>the<b> </b>decision<b> </b>not<b> </b>to<b> </b>oppose<b> </b>Schiff's<b> </b>release<b> </b>from<b> </b>prison<b> </b>had nothing to do with questions about the grand jury. Shin stood by that claim Wednesday when reminded by Rowland of<b> </b>his \"duty of candor\"<b> </b>and<b> </b>role<b> </b>as<b> </b>an<b> </b>\"officer of the court.\"<b> </b>Rowland clearly was not convinced, especially given how rare it is for federal prosecutors to agree to a defendant's compassionate release. </p><p>But it's just as rare for a judge to question the credibility of a federal prosecutor. And Wednesday, Rowland said Shin's position \"concerns me.\"</p>",
  "title": "Chicago FBI chief leaving unexpectedly, raising eyebrows amid feds' ongoing credibility crisis",
  "updatedAt": "2026-07-02T01:12:13.841Z"
}