The Illinois lawmaker who spearheaded a controversial policing reform bill has reportedly been “approached” by federal investigators looking into the possibility of influence-peddling related to provisions of that law.
Democratic state senator Elgie Sims was the main sponsor of the SAFE-T Act, a law which contained provisions requiring all police departments to use body cameras by 2025. The Chicago Tribune reports the feds are looking at body cam manufacturer Axon, which hired a Chicago law firm that also employs Sims. The feds want to know if hiring the firm to lobby lawmakers was part of an effort to influence Sims.
Sims has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and his attorney tells the Tribune that Sims did not engage in any impropriety.
