In a stunning display of entitlement and arrogance, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele—a prominent Illinois Democrat—found herself in handcuffs after a chaotic DUI arrest earlier this month. Newly released bodycam footage reveals a disturbing encounter where Steele crashed into multiple cars, invoked her political position to evade accountability, and hurled insults at Chicago police officers.
The incident unfolded on November 10 on Chicago’s North Side, with Steele refusing to cooperate with officers after they discovered her visibly intoxicated behind the wheel. The footage, obtained by election consultant Frank Calabrese, captures the unsettling arrogance of a public official who seemed to believe her elected status placed her above the law.
In the video, Steele repeatedly declares, “I’m an elected official,” as though her political title should shield her from consequences. Officers, unimpressed by her bluster, maintained their composure as they ordered her to exit the vehicle. Steele’s refusal escalated tensions, with her eventually lashing out, even stooping to crass personal insults. At one point, she mocked an officer, sneering, “Is your penis this small?”
NEW: Chicago Democrat threatens police officers that she is an "elected official" and taunts an officer for his "small p*nis" after she drunkenly crashed into cars.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele was arrested for DUI.
When police pulled her over,… pic.twitter.com/LahixVof2K
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 25, 2024
The situation worsened when officers found an open bottle of wine on the floor of her car—damning evidence of her reckless behavior. Steele continued to stonewall, refusing a field sobriety test and declining to disclose how much alcohol she had consumed, demanding a lawyer instead.
One officer’s report described Steele’s drunken state in no uncertain terms: “Her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. I detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her breath as she spoke.” Despite her complaints of head pain, Steele showed little concern for the potential harm her actions could have caused others on the road.
In the footage, Steele acknowledges hitting “two” cars but minimizes the severity of the incident. When a sergeant warns her, “If you don’t exit the vehicle, I’m gonna help you to exit, and you don’t want that,” Steele retorts, “You don’t want that,” doubling down on her defiance.
Adding to the chaos, Steele used her “small wrists” to slip out of handcuffs, further delaying the officers’ attempts to secure the situation. She also complained about being recorded, stating, “I don’t wanna be on the video,” only to be informed by officers that the cameras were rolling.
This brazen display of entitlement has sparked outrage, particularly given Steele’s role as a public servant. Her actions reflect a disturbing disregard for the law and the safety of her constituents.
As the footage circulates, it raises critical questions about accountability for elected officials. Steele’s blatant attempts to leverage her political status to avoid consequences only highlight the growing frustration with politicians who appear to operate under a different set of rules.
While Samantha Steele waits for her day in court, this incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of integrity in public office—and the necessity of holding even the most powerful to the same standards as the people they claim to serve.