In 2019, Highland Park cops sent a "clear and present danger" report to state police after Robert Crimo III made threats. A few months later, Crimo's father - who according to his attorney did not know about the threats - sponsored Crimo's FOID application chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-… State Police approved Crimo's FOID. We're told that the previous "clear and present danger" report may not have been a solid legal basis to deny the application under state law -- and ISP may not even have retained it long enough to flag it when he applied for the FOID later.

Good morning from Courtroom 700, where closing arguments in the Jussie Smollett trial are slated to begin any minute now. I'm in the benches. @jmetr22b is in the overflow. Follow along for updates. @jmetr22b Judge James Linn just took the bench and said he is not putting any time limits on closing arguments for either side. Strap in, everyone.

It's my turn in the courtroom for the Jussie Smollett trial. Judge Linn kicks things off by announcing that proceedings will be streamed to an overflow courtroom on the 3rd floor - so if you want to watch the trial and you can't make it to Linn's room, head there. Smollett is still on the stand for what I'm sure will be lengthy testimony - catch up here and on @jmetr22b's feed chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-…

The trial of Jussie Smollett is set to continue today. @jmetr22b is in the courtroom this morning - give him a follow for updates

https://twitter.com/jmetr22b/status/1466063773458997248?s=20

@jmetr22b per @mandophotos in the lobby of the courthouse, Abel Osundairo has walked into the building. So perhaps we'll hear his testimony at the Smollett trial soon enough.

I'm back in the courtroom after a lunch break in the Jussie Smollett trial. We're expecting Det. Michael Theis, one of the lead detectives on the Smollett investigation, to be cross-examined.

Catch up over at @jmetr22b's feed, and with our story here: chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-… @jmetr22b Judge James Linn stating from the bench that the attorneys will not speak to the press until after a verdict. "It’s not a gag order, it’s just an agreement between the lawyers."

Good morning. Jussie Smollett is slated to go on trial today.

@jmetr22b and I will be at 26th Street for coverage of what has to be the most controversial Class 4 felony case in history

chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-… Unlike other recent high-profile trials, there will be no livestream of the Smollett proceedings. There won’t even be a closed-circuit feed to an overflow room. So if you want to see what’s happening while it happens, you’ll need to be in the actual courtroom.

Well, I didn’t wake up this morning expecting to hear about R. Kelly’s history of sexually transmitted infections in excruciating detail, but here we are highlights of the testimony from Kris McGrath, doctor, professor at Northwestern's medical school, Kelly's longtime friend ...

Back outside the Brooklyn federal courthouse for the R Kelly trial. Today, a group of diehard Kelly fans got here before dawn, before all the reporters, to stand and wait at the front of the line They’re looking forward to Jerhonda Pace’s continued testimony: “we’re going to find out she’s a liar,” one told me. “Just wait till it comes out!”

there was a peculiar symmetry in calling Jerhonda Pace as the prosecution's first witness in R. Kelly's racketeering trial -- after all, she first met him outside Cook County court during his 1st trial. Back then, she was a superfan. Now, she's an accuser

chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-… the trial is here in Brooklyn but it's becoming clear just how much of the case will be centered on Chicago. Name-dropped today: the Rock n Roll McDonald's, the 211th Street Metra station; the hotel out near O'Hare where Kelly married 15-year-old Aaliyah.

We’re expecting a ruling today on whether a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the #JussieSmollett matter. Hearing will start in the next 10 minutes or so, stay tuned

chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-… Judge Toomin has prepared a written order (eyeballing this, it looks to be about 20 pages) and I’m told he will read it from the bench

The State's Attorney's FOIA office sent a huge document dump of internal communications related to the #JussieSmollett case.

Here's Kim Foxx to her top deputy, complaining that Smollett's 16-count indictment was excessive: I've reached out to ask why Foxx was talking to her colleague about the case if she was in fact "walled off"/recused. Haven't yet heard back.

Media attorneys are back this morning to try and get the #JussieSmollett file unsealed. Citing major public interest in the case contrasted with the secretive way things went down last week (and Foxx’s back-and-forth on which records were supposed to be sealed in the first place) There is a new law allowing for immediate sealing in circumstances like Smollett’s, but it doesn’t REQUIRE that sealing. In Smollett’s case, defense requested it, prosecutors did not object and the judge didn’t push back.

CONFIRMED: R. Kelly has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, per Cook County court records 10 counts under four different indictments. Three of the indictments involve a minor from the ages of 13-16 but it’s unclear how many victims were involved

Sentencing hearing today for Jason Van Dyke, 3+ months after a jury convicted him on second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery chicagotribune.com/news/local/bre… I’m expecting extensive legal arguments about what exactly the sentencing range should be — it’s hardly clear-cut, since this wasn’t exactly a typical verdict. Defense arguing for probation, state angling for prison time but hasn’t recommended a particular number.

say what you want about my dog but you gotta admit he can fuckin party certified amazing big boy

Trial begins today for three current/former Chicago cops accused of covering up what really happened the night #LaquanMcDonald was shot. This has kind of flown under the radar compared to Van Dyke’s trial but it is worth your attention. chicagotribune.com/news/laquanmcd… Van Dyke was charged in a single shooting that lasted seconds. These three are accused of a conspiracy that lasted for months. Prosecutors have framed this as putting the police “code of silence” on trial.