The controversy surrounding the dismissal of the charges against Jussie Smollett continue to grow as do the calls for Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx to resign. She has refused and now there may be an FBI review.
Foxx’s critics continue to mount, especially since state prosecutors still claim they had enough evidence to move forward with against the “Empire” actor over his report of a racist, anti-gay attack. In fact, the Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association issued a scathing critique of Foxx and her office.
The association released a statement that said Foxx and her representatives “have fundamentally misled the public on the law and circumstances surrounding the dismissal.” It added that the approach “was abnormal and unfamiliar” to those in criminal law in Illinois.
Listen to GHOGH with Jamarlin Martin | Episode 05: Angela Benton
Angela Benton talks about starting NewMe Accelerator, whose black and brown founders have raised $42 million in venture capital. Super-early to Black tech media with BlackWeb 2.0, she discusses building her personal brand while being a single mother, battling cancer, and whether or not most of the “diversity” gains in Silicon Valley will go to privileged white women.
Of course, President Trump weighed in, calling for the FBI to get involved. But the FBI was already investigating Smollett before Trump’s tweet that justice had not been done.
“Some former federal prosecutors say there are enough anomalies to justify a Justice Department review of why prosecutors dismissed all 16 felonies. Among the red flags they cited: the unusual level of secrecy around the proceedings, including sealed court documents; prosecutors’ often muddled and contradictory explanations; and the absence of any requirement that the accused accept responsibility in exchange for dropping charges,” Billboard reported.
Phil Turner, an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago, says the fast dismissal and sealing of the court documents is questionable. “It makes it look like they were clearly trying to pull a fast one,” he said. “It all smells funny.”
