Challeger Kari Steele (left) pounced Friday on a Sun-Times investigation that poked new holes in a controversial 2020 assessment policy of Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi. 

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi was back on the defensive Friday over the “COVID adjustment” breaks his office gave homeowners and some businesses in spring 2020, as Keagi back hit against a Sun-Times investigation that poked new holes in the controversial decision.