Joliet's John Lausch Steps Down As Chicago's U.S. Attorney

JOLIET, IL — Joliet native John Lausch, who was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois by President Trump and remained in the position after several powerful and prominent Illinois politicians urged President Joe Biden to retain him, will be leaving the position in the near future, U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland announced Thursday during a news conference.

A story about Lausch published by Crain's Chicago Business quoted a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office as saying, "We expect John will be moving on by the end of February or early March. He’ll be taking some time off before considering career options."

Crain's noted that Lausch, while serving as the federal prosecutor in Chicago, spearheaded the criminal investigations of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago Alderman Edward Burke.

In February 2021, Patch reported that nearly four years after being appointed as the Chicago U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois by former President Donald Trump, Joliet native John Lausch would get to stay a little longer.

At the time, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that one of its sources told them it is “rock solid” Lausch would stay, with the sign-off coming from the White House and the Department of Justice. Later that same day, both of Illinois' Democrat U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, issued joint statements praising Lausch, according to a story in Crain's headlined, "Lausch To Stay As Chicago's Top Federal Prosecutor."

In May 2021, Lausch was the featured guest speaker in downtown Joliet as more than 250 Joliet and Will County police officers and supporters gathered for a 20-minute service to mark the 40th Will County Law Enforcement Memorial Day. The noon service took place at the Memorial Wall on the old Will County Courthouse lawn.

"I had the great privilege and benefit of growing up here. I also want to take this opportunity to extend my greatest gratitude to the men and women that are here, or the family members, friends, work colleagues and other loved ones of the 36 officers who had their lives taken from them in the line of duty," Lausch told the crowd.

"There is no greater sacrifice, no greater sacrifice, than giving one's life to protect others. And that's what your family members did, your loved ones did. Due to their sacrifice and to your sacrifice as their family members, we are all much safer today ... please know that we will never ever forget them."

In August 2017, Joliet Patch reported that President Trump selected Lausch, then a 48-year-old lawyer and former standout athlete at Joliet Catholic High School, to take over as the president's next U.S. Attorney based in Chicago.

At that time, Lausch was a partner at the prominent Chicago law firm of Kirkland & Ellis. He has worked there since 2010, focusing on government enforcement defense and internal investigations, his bio notes.

Before that, Lausch served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois for more than a decade. He supervised the office from 2005 to 2010, his bio notes. Lausch has substantial prior experience prosecuting corruption. He has tried more than 20 criminal jury cases involving RICO conspiracies, fraud offenses, extortion, narcotics and firearms cases. And while at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Lausch was an exemplary employee. He received two Department of Justice Director's Awards for Superior Performance, his bio notes.

According to Kirkland & Ellis, Lausch was recognized in 2013 and 2014 as an "Illinois Super Lawyer" by the Super Lawyers magazine.