Byrd-Bennett’s arrival at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse was her first public appearance in six months; in April, she had championed strong principals at a downtown event on the same day that federal subpoenas landed at Chicago Public Schools headquarters.
U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon said last week that Byrd-Bennett would plead guilty at her “earliest opportunity” — and she did, entering her plea to one count of wire fraud at her arraignment before U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang, as her family and friends filled the second row of the courtroom.”