Advertisement 1

Jussie Smollett 'prosecutor' using govt. lawyers to 'evade the truth'

Article content

The prosecutor who reportedly masterminded the Jussie Smollett debacle should be made to pay for her own lawyers, a retired judge said.

Advertisement 2
Story continues below
Article content

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s machinations relating to the Empire star’s bogus beatdown are now under fire.

Former State Appeals Court Judge Sheila O’Brien said Foxx is using “tax-supported attorneys to evade subpoenas, hide from the press and continue to evade the truth”.

Article content

Empire star Smollett, 36, claimed in January he was the victim of a racist, homophobic beatdown.

Friends in high places. Jussie Smollett smiles and waves to supporters before leaving Cook County Court after his charges were dropped in Chicago.
Friends in high places. Jussie Smollett smiles and waves to supporters before leaving Cook County Court after his charges were dropped in Chicago. Photo by Paul Beaty /AP

But cops suspected from the start the actor had orchestrated the hoax in a bid for more cash and a bigger role in Empire.

But despite the 16 felony charges, Smollett managed to skate in March after two days of community service.

Recommended from Editorial
  1. Singer Jussie Smollett performs onstage at Troubadour on Feb. 2, 2019 in West Hollywood, Calif.
    2 men questioned in Jussie Smollett attack released without charges
  2. State attorney Kim Foxx has been subpoenaed to explain her actions in the Jussie Smollett case.
    JUSSIE SMOLLETT: Prosecutor's actions 'plagued with irregularity'
  3. State attorney Kim Foxx is blaming racism for criticism for the secret deal she orchestrated that allowed Jussie Smollett to skate.
    Prosecutor slams 'laughingstock' Jussie Smollett bogus beatdown deal
  4. In this May 20, 2016 file photo, actor and singer Jussie Smollett attends the
    Sources say Jussie Smollett paid men to stage his own attack: Report
  5. State attorney Kim Foxx called Jussie Smollett a
    Prosecutor feared 'washed-up celeb' Jussie Smollett had been overcharged
Advertisement 3
Story continues below
Article content

The actor’s family is politically well connected and they allegedly reached out to former first lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff to grease the wheels for Smollett.

Immediately, the decision triggered protests and rancour.

“Tax supported attorneys are to do the business of the people — not protect the State’s Attorney in disobeying the law,” O’Brien wrote, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Her motion seeks to disqualify the staff lawyers that have been representing the state’s attorney’s office in hearings on the special prosecutor request.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

“Kim Foxx should use her own funds, not tax funds, to represent her in this proceeding as she continues to fight subpoenas, deny access to the press, seal court files, and evade telling the truth,” O’Brien added.

In April, O’Brien in April petitioned the chief judge to appoint a special prosecutor to probe how Smollett faked a hate crime attack on himself.

The case was abruptly dismissed. Foxx called the manoeuvre “alternative prosecution”.

Critics called it special treatment and political machinations.

O’Brien also has filed subpoenas for Foxx, her deputy Joseph Magats, and Democratic fundraiser and Obama pal Tina Tchen.

It was Tchen who reached out on the disgraced actor’s behalf.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police and prosecutors groups were outraged.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Article content
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers