Even though the Chicago Police Department has an epic history of torture and corruption, the law enforcement agency has apparently decided to make Jussie Smollett the hill it will die on. The Chicago Police Union was actually taking the time to have a protest against Kim Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney and the first Black woman to serve in that position. She was being blamed her for all 16 felony counts against Smollett being dropped.
See Also: Complete Timeline Of Jussie Smollett Investigation
“We are interested in having the federal authorities look into what occurred here because we’re baffled by what has happened,” Kevin Graham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, babbled to Fox News. Now, because they didn’t get a Black man in their clutches, they were planning a protest on Monday.
In case you missed it, three days after Smollett was allegedly attacked on Jan. 29, Foxx asked Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to give the case to the FBI. She was allegedly contacted by someone from Smollett’s family because they were rightfully concerned coming from the police. However, on Feb. 19, Foxx recused herself from the case as soon it was reported that Smollett was a possible suspect.
Tina Tchen, former chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama, sent a text message to Foxx saying the family had “concerns about the investigation,” the Chicago Tribune reported. The messages began Feb. 1. See below:
“Spoke to the Superintendent Johnson,” Foxx emailed Tchen back on Feb. 1. “I convinced him to Reach out to FBI to ask that they take over the investigation.”
The same day, Foxx texted with Smollett’s relative, whose name was blacked out in copies released by her office.
“Spoke to the superintendent earlier, he made the ask,” Foxx wrote. “Trying to figure out logistics. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Omg this would be a huge victory,” the relative replied.
“I make no guarantees, but I’m trying,” Foxx wrote back.
Kiera Ellis, a spokeswoman for the state’s attorney’s office, defended Foxx.
“When she initially engaged in the communications, Mr. Smollett was still believed to be the victim of the crime,” Ellis said in a statement. “As the investigation started to change and it became a possibility that he could actually be a suspect, that is when she made the decision (to recuse herself).”
Foxx had no involvement in the charges against Smollett being dropped and responded to the outrage by saying, “Mr. Smollett was afforded the same opportunity that anyone in Cook County who had a nonviolent offense and the required background check would get. I was not part of the charging decision,” she said.
She also said, “It was not unusual for me to talk to a victim in a case. At the time that I engaged with this family member, Mr. Smollett was a victim.” Most powerfully, Foxx stated, “There’s some people who were never gonna be satisfied unless Mr. Smollett spent many nights in prison.”
On Jan. 29, while walking to a subway, Smollett claimed two men yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him, investigators told The Hollywood Reporter. They allegedly punched and poured bleach on him while one of the suspects put a rope around his neck. As they fled the scene, Smollett told police they said, “This is MAGA country.”
Smollett has maintained his innocence from the beginning.
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