Chicago, United States - November 11, 2024 A Cook County politician’s recent DUI arrest is making waves after bodycam footage captured her defiant behavior during the police response to a crash she caused in Chicago. Samantha Steele, a Democratic Board of Review Commissioner, repeatedly told officers she was an elected official, attempting to assert her authority at the scene. In the video, obtained by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Steele refused to cooperate with police, initially refusing to exit her vehicle or provide her driver’s license. When officers urged Steele to leave the car, one officer warned, “Ma’am, if you don’t exit the vehicle… I’m going to help you to exit, and you don’t want that.” Steele shot back, “You don’t want that! I’m an elected official.” As the situation escalated, Steele identified herself as an elected official of Cook County but withheld further details, even as officers continued to record the interaction. Steele’s defiance continued as she drank from a bottle and called her attorney, Democratic Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton. Britton later advised her to comply with officers and provide her driver’s license. The arrest footage also captured the discovery of a half-empty bottle of red wine in Steele's vehicle, further complicating the situation. Steele was later charged with one misdemeanor count of DUI. In addition to the arrest, Steele faces a federal whistleblower lawsuit from her former aide, who released the footage. Steele, who represents part of Chicago and its northern suburbs, has not publicly commented on the charges, with her court date scheduled for December 27.