Chicago Council of Lawyers President Robert Held has filed a civil lawsuit against federal agent Adam Saracco, stemming from a December 2025 encounter in which Saracco pushed Held to the ground while Held was filming him on a public sidewalk.

According to reporting from CBS Chicago and ABC7 Chicago, Saracco was charged with misdemeanor battery following the incident and pleaded guilty in August. He was sentenced to one year of court supervision.

Held contends that Saracco was attempting to take his cellphone and delete video he had recorded. In announcing the civil lawsuit, Held emphasized that recording on a public sidewalk is protected First Amendment activity and questioned why the incident resulted in a misdemeanor rather than more serious charges.

The lawsuit comes amid Held’s broader involvement in legal challenges surrounding federal immigration enforcement and protest rights in the Chicago area, including a separate challenge to restrictions on demonstrations outside the Broadview ICE facility.

The case raises continuing questions about accountability for federal law enforcement officers and the protection of the First Amendment rights during encounters with members of the public.

Read more about the lawsuit and Held’s remarks in coverage from CBS Chicago and ABC7 Chicago.