Cook County sheriff sues to unmask ' Dan ' an anonymous person accusing him of domestic abuse
Tom Dart
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart  is going to court to unmask the person who alleged in emails to politicians  Chicago police investigators and journalists that  Dart  attacked  his  wife at their South Side home.
 Dart  filed the legal papers Wednesday in his personal capacity  not as sheriff  and hired lawyer John F. Winters Jr.  who specializes in defamation cases. Such court filings are often a prelude to a defamation lawsuit filed against the person behind anonymous emails or web postings.
“ Tom  has been subjected to sustained attacks on  his  integrity  and even threats to  his  life  during  his  tenure as sheriff ” said Dennis Culloton  who is acting as  Dart ’s personal spokesman  in a statement. “Over the past several months  these attacks have escalated to include false and vicious rumors involving his wife and family  perpetuated by cowards who hide behind fake email addresses and anonymous blogs. Through this filing we hope to hold those people accountable.”
The first of two October emails cited in the filing allege  Dart  “committed a Domestic Battery” on his wife “causing visible injuries to her face” that were observed by responding Chicago and Cook County sheriff’s police on either Oct. 11 or 12. They allege a police report was taken but that the attacker was listed as “unknown” and that a 911 call was placed to  Dart ’s home.
“This incident is being attempted to be swept under the rug ” the email’s author  who describes himself as a “Cook County taxpayer” named “Dan ” writes.  “Tom Dart  should not be able to get away with this!”
Records show a complaint was also made to a Chicago police oversight agency in October alleging that police refused to act or take reports “in regards to an incident that occurred at  Sheriff Tom Dart’s  home that involved  his  wife and  his  girlfriend.”
RELATED: Sheriff Tom Dart’s personnel board halts firings  suspensions amid legal questions »
[TGT]is going to court to unmask the person who alleged in emails to politicians  Chicago police investigators and journalists that  Dart  attacked  [TGT]  wife at their South Side home.
 [TGT]filed the legal papers Wednesday in [TGT] personal capacity  not as sheriff  and hired lawyer John F. Winters Jr.  who specializes in defamation cases. Such court filings are often a prelude to a defamation lawsuit filed against the person behind anonymous emails or web postings.
“ Tom  has been subjected to sustained attacks on  his  integrity  and even threats to  his  life  during  his  tenure as sheriff ” said Dennis Culloton  who is acting as  Dart ’s personal spokesman  in a statement. “Over the past several months  these attacks have escalated to include false and vicious rumors involving his wife and family  perpetuated by cowards who hide behind fake email addresses and anonymous blogs. Through this filing we hope to hold those people accountable.”
The first of two October emails cited in the filing allege  Dart  “committed a Domestic Battery” on his wife “causing visible injuries to her face” that were observed by responding Chicago and Cook County sheriff’s police on either Oct. 11 or 12. They allege a police report was taken but that the attacker was listed as “unknown” and that a 911 call was placed to  Dart ’s home.
“This incident is being attempted to be swept under the rug ” the email’s author  who describes himself as a “Cook County taxpayer” named “Dan ” writes.  “Tom Dart  should not be able to get away with this!”
Records show a complaint was also made to a Chicago police oversight agency in October alleging that police refused to act or take reports “in regards to an incident that occurred at  Sheriff Tom Dart’s  home that involved  his  wife and  his  girlfriend.”
RELATED: Sheriff Tom Dart’s personnel board halts firings  suspensions amid legal questions »