Former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot, who made history as the first Black woman and first openly gay leader of the nation’s third-largest city, is now facing a lawsuit from JPMorgan Chase Bank.
The lawsuit concerns an alleged unpaid credit card debt, according to court records filed late last year and reviewed by the Chicago Tribune.
The complaint, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, claims Lightfoot failed to pay about $11,078 owed on a United MileagePlus credit card. Lightfoot was served with the lawsuit at her Chicago home in October 2025 after not making a payment since August 2024, when her last payment of about $5,000 was recorded.
The debt was eventually declared a charge-off by the lender earlier this year after Lightfoot did not contest the bank’s final billing statement, the filing says. A court hearing on the matter is currently scheduled for December 2026. Lightfoot’s spokesperson on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, declined to comment when contacted about the suit, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Lightfoot’s Post-Mayoral Life and Ongoing Initiatives
Since leaving office in May 2023 following an unsuccessful reelection bid, Lightfoot has remained active in academia and civic engagement. She has held visiting professorships at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, Harvard University, and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.
More recently, Lightfoot unveiled the “ICE Accountability Project,” an independent initiative aimed at documenting alleged criminal or abusive conduct by federal immigration agents in Chicago, particularly during large enforcement operations. The project signals her ongoing involvement in immigration and civil rights issues.
Lightfoot’s continued public engagement comes as Chicago grapples with complex challenges related to immigration enforcement, federal-local tensions, and community trust. Her bold rhetoric — including statements suggesting that federal agents are not immune from scrutiny — has drawn both support and criticism.
A Storied Career and Public Service Legacy
Lightfoot served as Chicago’s 56th mayor from 2019 to 2023. A lawyer by training and former president of the Chicago Police Board, she rose to national prominence as a progressive reformer and symbol of representation in American politics.
Her tenure included efforts to address public safety, racial equity, ethics reform, and economic challenges, though she also faced political headwinds and public scrutiny that ultimately contributed to her election defeat.
The lawsuit by JPMorgan Chase adds an unexpected chapter to Lightfoot’s post-mayoral narrative.
