16th Ward Candidate Arrested for Assault

Chicago Board of Elections Chief Langdon Neil reported this afternoon that 16th Ward candidate Hal Baskin was arrested for assaulting election judges in the 37th ward.

Baskin allegedly verbally assaulted the election judges working the precinct to the point where the felt unsafe, according to Neil, who told reporters on a conference call.

The judges called 911 and police took Baskin into custody, Neil said. It's not clear at this time if police will file charges.

Baskin, who faces off against JoAnn Thompson, once made what was called the "most abusive comment in Chicago politics," after remarks he made in 1995 during another aldermanic election. During the 1995 race even Mayor Daley admonished him.

More details to come.

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