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Chicago police union wants federal probe in Jussie Smollett case

Last month, Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx recused herself from the Smollett case.
Image: Smollett-US-Entertainment-TELEVISION-crime-SMOLLETT
Jussie Smollett attends Leighton Criminal Court with his attorney Tina Glandian on March 14, 2019, in Chicago.E. Jason Wambsgans / Pool via AFP - Getty Images

CHICAGO — The Chicago police union’s president alleges that the county’s top prosecutor interfered with the investigation of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett before recusing herself and wants the Justice Department to determine if she broke any laws.

WLS-TV in Chicago reports that Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Graham wrote the Justice Department following reports that Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx asked Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to let the FBI investigate Smollett’s allegations that he was attacked by two masked men after the former chief of staff to former first lady Michelle Obama informed Foxx that Smollett’s family had concerns about the probe.

The police kept the investigation, and Foxx recused herself.

A representative from her office said at the time: "Out of an abundance of caution, the decision to recuse herself was made to address potential questions of impartiality based upon familiarity with potential witnesses in the case."

Her office charged Smollett with lying to police.

Foxx’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.