Chicago Prosecutor Facing Major Scrutiny Over Handling of Jessie Smollett Case

Chicago Prosecutor Facing Major Scrutiny Over Handling of Jessie Smollett Case

Kim Foxx, a prominent prosecutor in Chicago, was subpoenaed over her handling of the infamous Jussie Smollett case and the decision to suddenly decline prosecuting a 16-count indictment, according to Fox News.
Foxx currently holds the position of State’s Attorney for Cook County. As a result of the subpoena, Foxx will have to appear in court and explain her handling of this high-profile, and quite odd, case.
Foxx has been asked to produce original documents in Smollett’s criminal case. The reason? To help assure the public that they have not been altered or destroyed and will not be destroyed throughout the case. A retired state judge filed a petition requesting the appointment of a special prosecutor to review the case due to concern by the judge of Foxx’s handling of the case. The judge described Foxx’s decisions as “plagued with irregularity,”according to the aforementioned Fox News article.
The judge went on to assert that Foxx, who informally recused herself from the case due to contact she had with a relative of Smollett’s during the initial investigation, should have been proactive and appointed a special prosecutor to handle the criminal case related to the 16-count indictment.
The judge declared that Foxx’s conflict in the Smollett matter was “beyond dispute” and went so far as to accuseFoxx of misleading the public into believing that Smollett’s case was handled like any other prosecution and without any questionable influence.

Background on the Jussie Smollett Case

Smollett – an actor who had a prominent role on the Fox TV series “Empire”- told police he was attacked around 2:00 am on the29th of January. Smollett claimed he was returning home from a sandwich shop in Chicago when two masked men shouted racial and anti-gay slurs, poured bleach on him, beat him and tied a rope around his neck. Smollett went on to claim that these purported attackers shouted, “This is MAGA country,” which was a supposed reference to President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan. However, after investigating the allegations, Chicago police determined that Smollett actually staged the incident. Why? In an effort to drum up publicity for his acting career.

Felony Offense for Filing False Police Report

After it was revealed that the attack was an apparent hoax, Chicago police charged Smollett with a felony offense, specifically disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report. If convicted, Smollett could have been ordered to serve between one and five years in jail. However, the criminal charges against Smollett were dropped.

Have You Been Charged with a Felony? If So, Contact a Skilled Chicago Defense Attorney

Getting charged with a felony crime in Chicago can have a serious impact on your future. This is why it is so important to retain a top-notch criminal defense attorney. Take action today by contacting Vadim A. Glozman, a skilled and respected Chicago criminal defense attorney. His legal team stands ready to help you during this difficult and stressful time.