Chicago, Illinois – A federal judge has dismissed the sexual assault lawsuit against former Chicago Police superintendent Eddie Johnson. The lawsuit, filed by officer Cynthia Donald, accused Johnson of repeatedly raping her and concealing evidence of the abuse. The allegations stemmed from a drunk driving incident in 2019 that led to Johnson’s retirement. U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo granted motions for summary judgment filed by Johnson and the city, stating that the evidence suggested Donald was a willing participant in the relationship.
The lawsuit was brought against Johnson and the city late last year by Cynthia Donald, who had previously served on Johnson’s security detail. Donald claimed that she had been sexually assaulted by Johnson for several years, and that he had tried to cover up the abuse. The allegations arose after an embarrassing drunk driving incident in late 2019 that brought an end to Johnson’s career with the Chicago Police Department just weeks before his planned retirement.
In her ruling, Judge Elaine Bucklo stated that the evidence indicated that Donald had welcomed Johnson’s advances and was an active participant in their relationship. According to Bucklo, it was important to consider the objective nature of Donald’s conduct as it would appear to Johnson, rather than solely her subjective intent. Donald’s attorney, Robert McLaughlin, expressed disappointment with the ruling and stated that they would be appealing the decision.
The incident that led to Johnson’s downfall occurred in October 2019, when he was found asleep behind the wheel of a city-owned vehicle near his home in Bridgeport. The subsequent investigation revealed that before Johnson was discovered, he and Donald had been drinking at a downtown bar. Johnson initially claimed the incident was due to a medication mix-up, but it was later uncovered that he and Donald had been drinking together. After dismissing his driver, Johnson drove Donald back to CPD headquarters before continuing on to his home.
Donald’s lawsuit also alleged that former Mayor Lori Lightfoot had tried to deflect blame from the city over the incident. She claimed that Lightfoot had ordered Johnson to remove her from his detail and had referred to her disrespectfully. Several CPD officers, including the former commander of the Deering District, faced suspensions over their handling of the incident. Lightfoot swiftly fired Johnson after participating in a press conference announcing his planned retirement.
The dismissal of the sexual assault lawsuit against former Chicago Police superintendent Eddie Johnson has raised questions about the nature of the relationship between the two parties. While the court found that the evidence portrayed Donald’s behavior as consensual, her attorney intends to appeal the ruling. This case highlights the complexities and challenges involved in litigating allegations of sexual assault within professional organizations.