The gravelly voice of Jason Beghe (Sgt. Hank Voight) has defined the gritty streets of Chicago for over a decade. But as the clock ticks toward the January 2026 return of Chicago P.D., the drama has leaked off the screen and into a real-world legal nightmare that has NBC executives pulling their hair out.
Forget the fictional Internal Affairs; we’re talking about a subpoena that just landed on the desk of television’s most untouchable cop.
1. THE ‘CAGE’ TAPES: Did Art Mimic a Real-Life Crime?
The “giật tít” (shocking) centerpiece of this scandal involves a series of audio recordings allegedly captured during a 2024 cast party at a private residence in the Gold Coast.
The Allegation: Sources claim the tapes feature Beghe “joking” about a series of off-set “interrogations” he conducted on behalf of a local private security firm.
The Legal Trap: A civil lawsuit filed this week by a former set assistant alleges that the “intensity” Beghe brings to Voight isn’t an act. The suit claims Beghe utilized unauthorized police-grade equipment—reportedly borrowed from the prop department—to “intimidate” staff during a dispute over a leaked script.
2. THE JESSE LEE SOFFER DEPOSITION: The Brother’s Betrayal?
The return of Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay Halstead) as a director was supposed to be a triumph. Instead, it’s a legal minefield.
The Subpoena: Soffer has reportedly been summoned to testify in the ongoing investigation into “Workplace Conduct” at the 21st District.
The Rumor: Insiders suggest Soffer’s real reason for leaving the show in Season 10 wasn’t “military service” for Halstead, but a private settlement regarding a physical altercation with a “senior cast member.” If Soffer speaks the truth on the stand in 2026, the man we know as Voight could be facing a real-life suspension that no Chief of Police can fix.
3. THE SCIENTOLOGY GHOSTS: A Past That Won’t Stay Buried
While Beghe famously left Scientology in 2007, a new documentary filmmaker claims to have found documents linking Beghe’s current “Consulting Firm” to several high-ranking members of the organization.
The “Disconnection” Lawsuit: A group of activists is reportedly planning to protest outside the Chicago P.D. studios in early 2026, alleging that Beghe’s influence has been used to “blacklist” certain actors from the One Chicago universe who have spoken out against his past affiliations.
4. THE ‘49%’ REBOOT: Is the Show Being Liquidated?
As these real-world legal clouds gather, the show’s narrative is taking an suspiciously dark turn.
The “Blackmailer” Arc: In the fall finale, it was revealed that Commander Devlin is blackmailing Voight over his father’s abusive past.
The Meta-Conspiracy: Fans are speculating that this “Blackmail” storyline is actually a meta-commentary on Beghe’s real-life legal troubles. If Voight goes to prison in the show, is it because Jason Beghe is heading to a courtroom in real life?
THE VERDICT: THE END OF THE UNTOUCHABLE
Jason Beghe has played the “Bad Cop” better than anyone in history. But as the March 2026 court date looms, the line between the actor and the sergeant is blurring into a smudge of legal fees and public scrutiny.
When Chicago P.D. returns on January 7, look at Voight’s eyes. Is that the look of a character in trouble, or an actor who knows the final gavel is about to fall?
