Kim Foxx will not appear before County Board to discuss Jussie Smollett case

State’s Attorney Kim Foxx will not meet with the Cook County Board to discuss her office’s handling of the Jussie Smollett case, according to a letter from Foxx obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

In her letter to the board, Foxx cites her recent decision to refrain from publicly commenting on the matter during the ongoing investigation by the county’s Office of the Independent Inspector General.

“Until the conclusion of this ongoing review, I do not feel that it is appropriate for me to comment publicly on the Jussie Smollett matter,” the top Cook County prosecutor said in the letter.

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, R-Palos Park, last month, had asked for Foxx to appear before the board to explain her office’s abrupt decision to drop 16 charges of disorderly conduct against Smollett for allegedly staging a fake hate crime attack.

“I’m aware we can’t compel her to speak to us, but the Cook County Board does control her budget, but this transcends beyond that,” Morrison said at the time.

“Look at the outcry of the last 24 to 48 hours — the residents of Cook County have lost trust in [Foxx], and I think it’s in her best interest to come before us and clear this up.”

On Tuesday, Morrison, said Foxx not addressing the board, “is just an excuse to not come before the public.”

“She’s using the inspector general’s investigation to avoid coming before us and answering questions, which is contrary to her statements that she welcomes public inquiry,” said Morrison, who is chairman of the Cook County Republican Party. “The inspector general is going to do a fine job, and I hope that she complies with him 100 percent.”

Morrison’s resolution on Foxx coming before the board is on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. Morrison said that matter will sit in committee until the investigation is over and then the board will invite Foxx to speak again.

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