The Fraternal Order of Police on Tuesday unleashed its anger at Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx after charges were dropped against Jussie Smollett and renewed its call for a federal investigation into Foxx’s “interference” in the case.
“The conduct of her office from the very beginning of this case was highly, highly suspicious,” Martin Preib, the FOP’s second vice president, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
The entire country is outraged by it. The evidence is overwhelming that he was legitimately charged in this case. This decision [to drop the charges] appears to be utterly arbitrary, capricious and suspicious.”
That criticism was echoed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, who spoke to reporters at Navy Pier after a graduation ceremony for new and promoted CPD officers.
“From top to bottom, this is not on the level,” Emanuel said, adding that it looks like another case where the wealthy and famous are treated differently.
Smollett continues to say he is innocent, even though he agreed to forfeit $10,000 in bail and performed less than a day of community service as part of the agreement with the prosecutors.
Records in the case have been sealed by the judge and can only be opened by court order. Some police reports were released Wednesday under a Freedom of Information Act request from a local website.
