Top Chicago Democrat mocked Asian cop’s penis size during DUI arrest and tried to bully ER doctor who treated her into testifying, court hears

A leading Chicago Democrat mocked an Asian police officer’s penis size after he was arrested for drunken driving and tried to pressure an emergency room doctor who treated her not to testify, a court heard.

Samantha Steele, 47, who represents Chicago’s District 2, covering most of the North Side and northern suburbs, was charged with driving under the influence after her arrest in November 2024. Her trial started Monday.

Bodycam video shown in a courtroom at the Richard J. Daley Center shows Steele refusing a field sobriety test and then being arrested after getting out of her car, according to the Chicago Tribune.

She briefly changed her mind and claimed she would take the test, but suddenly requested an ambulance after complaining of a head injury.

Chicago Police Officer Danny Wu told the court that Steele had cried in the ambulance and then insulted him at the hospital.

“You have a small penis,” Steele told Wu, according to his testimony.

The trial is expected to last two days. Steele did not address the court yesterday and the defense has yet to make an opening statement.

Steele was first elected in 2022 as a commissioner for District 2 of the Cook County Board of Review, which has the authority to decide property tax appeals.

Chicago Democrat Samantha Steele, commissioner for District 2 of the Cook County Board of Review, told an Asian police officer he had “a small penis,” according to his testimony

Steele, 47, was initially arrested in November 2024 and charged with driving under the influence. Her trial started Monday

Wu’s testimony confirmed what had already been noted in the initial police report after Steele’s arrest.

However, the Democratic politician’s insult regarding Wu’s anatomy was not captured on the bodycam footage.

“At the hospital, I placed Steele under arrest for driving under the influence and secured her handcuffs which were double locked and checked for fit,” the report said.

In the report, Wu added: “While I was reading the warning [sic] to motorist Steele repeatedly said, “Is your penis that small?”

Before testimony began, Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Boersma told Cook County Judge Donald Suriano that Steele’s attorneys had contacted an emergency room doctor. Steele was brought to the night of her arrest to give her a warning.

“If you testify, your testimony could lead to a malpractice charge,” the court heard.

Prosecutor Riley Mullen said Steele “made a choice” on the day of her arrest in 2024.

“A choice to drink and a choice to drive,” Mullen told the court.

Bodycam video captured the moment Steele was stopped by police officers but went unnoticed as she insulted the officer’s anatomy at the hospital

In court, Chicago police officers testified that Steele “looked like she was under the influence” and had “red, bloodshot, glassy eyes.”

All four Chicago Police officers called to testify Monday pointed out Steele in the courtroom.

Sergeant Tewelde Tesfai said the Illinois Democrat “looked like she was under the influence.”

“She had red, bloodshot, glassy eyes,” Tesfai told the court.

Another officer, Ricardo Fernandez, said Steele appeared “confused” and “disoriented” when he arrived on the scene.

A video was played in court that showed Steele repeatedly shooting Fernandez, who is now retired, as he asked for her driver’s license as cars zoomed by on Ashland Avenue.

In the full bodycam footage, Steele was combative and tried to use her position to bully Chicago police officers.

At one point, an open bottle of wine was found by police on the floor of her car.

“I’m an elected official,” Steele said from her car, but did not respond when asked about her office.

After the officer asked for her name, she extended her hand as she sat in the open door and said, “I’m Sam.”

At another point, Steele, who twice used what officers described as “small wrists” to slip out of handcuffs, demanded, “I don’t want to be on video.”

In April, Steele denied that she was drunk during her arrest and said she had not insulted the Chicago police officer’s anatomy.

In April, Steele said she was “absolutely not” drunk when asked about her arrest and trial in an interview with NBC 5.

“I had a glass of wine and I wanted to keep the bottle,” she added. “So I brought it. It’s not against the law.’

She denied making a comment about the police officer’s penis, claiming there was ‘no evidence of that’.

“The language he used is not the language I would have used,” Steele said.

According to the outlet, Steele is interested in running for Cook County assessor.

She has appeared before members of the Cook County Democratic Committee to seek the party’s endorsement, but said she would not run for office without their support.

She will reportedly make a decision on her political future in mid-July.

Although Steele is the incumbent commissioner for District 2 of the Cook County Board of Review, she lost her bid for re-election earlier this year.

In March, Steele was defeated by Elizabeth Nicholson in the District 2 Democratic primary.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Steele, her attorney John Fotopoulos and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for comment on the lawsuit.