Nothing to see here, move along

So that Homan Square facility in Chicago? Nothing to see here, folks:

The Guardian newspaper published a story Tuesday saying the Chicago Police Department operates an “off-the-books interrogation compound” that some local defense lawyers called the domestic version of a secret CIA “black site,” but police officials responded that the facility isn’t used to violate suspects’ rights — and isn’t even secret.

Further, we have assurances from a guy named Marty -- how can you not trust a guy named Marty?

Marty Maloney, a spokesman for the police department, said interviews are handled no differently at Homan Square than at other police facilities, such as the department’s 22 districts or its three detective headquarters.

“If lawyers have a client detained at Homan Square, just like any other facility, they are allowed to speak to and visit them,” Maloney said. “There are always records of anyone who is arrested by CPD, and this is not any different at Homan Square.”

Arrest reports are completed at Homan Square, and suspects are taken to other facilities for booking, Maloney said.

Recall what the Guardian article said:

Unlike a precinct, no one taken to Homan Square is said to be booked. Witnesses, suspects or other Chicagoans who end up inside do not appear to have a public, searchable record entered into a database indicating where they are, as happens when someone is booked at a precinct. Lawyers and relatives insist there is no way of finding their whereabouts. Those lawyers who have attempted to gain access to Homan Square are most often turned away, even as their clients remain in custody inside.

“It’s sort of an open secret among attorneys that regularly make police station visits, this place – if you can’t find a client in the system, odds are they’re there,” said Chicago lawyer Julia Bartmes.

Chicago civil-rights attorney Flint Taylor said Homan Square represented a routinization of a notorious practice in local police work that violates the fifth and sixth amendments of the constitution.

“This Homan Square revelation seems to me to be an institutionalization of the practice that dates back more than 40 years,” Taylor said, “of violating a suspect or witness’ rights to a lawyer and not to be physically or otherwise coerced into giving a statement.”

Access is the problem. Yes, if an attorney knows the client is at Homan Square, the attorney can visit. But if you don't know and the CPD won't tell you, you can't.

Meanwhile, the dutiful Sun Times reminds us that, hey, it could be worse:

And unlike other Chicago Police facilities over the years, no allegations of torture have been reported in the media in connection with Homan Square.

As we all know, if it hasn't been reported in the media, it hasn't happened. QED. We'll be watching the reporting coming out of Chicago in the next few days concerning Homan Square. Unless I miss my guess, there won't be much other than the Adventures of Spin and Marty we've seen here.