Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has had enough of the Chicago Police Department and questions surrounding how the Jussie Smollett case was handled. She is being blamed for all 16 felony counts being dropped and the Chicago Police Department has scheduled a protest of Foxx on Monday. She has now responded in a biting opinion piece for the Chicago Tribune.
See Also: Complete Timeline Of Jussie Smollett Investigation
Foxx explained in detail how Smollett “has not been exonerated; he has not been found innocent.” But she also says “prosecutors are required to balance the severity of the crime against the likelihood of securing a conviction.”
She continued, “For a variety of reasons, including public statements made about the evidence in this case, my office believed the likelihood of securing a conviction was not certain.” This appears to be a clear dig at Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson who spoke to the press more than Smollett and made statements that were contradictory, even by the lawyer of Ola and Abel Osundairo (the lawyer said the $3,500 check was for training while Johnson said it was to stage a hoax).
She also made a mention of Laquan McDonald in her opinion piece, “I am afraid when I see a CPD commander slain by a four-time felon who was walking the streets. I am also afraid when I see CPD resources used to initially cover up the shooting death of Laquan McDonald.”
Foxx explained Smollett’s alleged crime was a “Class 4 felony, the least serious category, which also covers things like falsely pulling a fire alarm in school.” But she also adds, obviously referencing Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Johnson, “Any prosecutor, law-enforcement leader or elected official not grandstanding or clouded by political expediency understands the purpose of sentencing guidelines.” As we all know, the famously corrupt Emanuel has made a career out of grandstanding.
This will clearly outrage the CPD even more. See the details about their protest below:
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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