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*The president of the Chicago police union alleged in a letter sent to the Justice Department that the county’s top prosecutor interfered in the Jussie Smollett investigation.
The Fraternal Order of Police is asking the DOJ to launch an investigation into Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, according to ABC 7 Chicago. Foxx allegedly tried to convince Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to turn Smollett’s case over to the FBI — after being contacted by Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, Tina Tchen.
Tchen reportedly reached out to her, saying the “Empire” star’s family had “concerns.”
“That recusal is wholly insufficient,” FOP president Kevin Graham said in a statement. “In order for Ms. Foxx to properly charge and try this case, her entire office should have recused itself and a special prosecutor been appointed.”
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Foxx’s office eventually charged Smollett, 36, with 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report. The singer-actor claims he was the victim of an assault in the early morning hours of Jan. 29 in Chicago, stating two masked men hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, beat him up, poured bleach on him and placed a rope around his neck.
However, investigators now believe he paid two acquaintances — Nigerian-American brothers Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo — to help him stage the attack. The brothers are now cooperating with the investigation.
Tchen reportedly texted Foxx on Feb. 1 — three days after Smollett reported the attack and when he was still considered a victim.
“I wanted to give you a call on behalf of Jussie Smollett and family who I know. They have concerns about the investigation,” Tchen wrote.
Foxx emailed Tchen later the same day, “Spoke to the Superintendent Johnson. I convinced him to Reach out to FBI to ask that they take over the investigation. He is reaching out now and will get to me shortly.”
Chicago PD kept the investigation and Foxx recused herself.
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