kim_foxx_e1556639680196.jpg

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. | File photo

Kim Foxx subpoenaed to appear at hearing on Smollett special prosecutor request

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has been subpoenaed to appear in court as a lawyer seeks the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Foxx’s handling of the Jussie Smollett case.

Retired appellate judge Sheila O’Brien, who filed the petition for a special prosecutor, also filed a subpoena for Foxx’s top deputy, Joseph Magats, and another document requesting Jussie Smollett appear at the hearing.

O’Brien requested Foxx, Magats and Smollett produce the original documents in the “Empire” actor’s criminal case to “assure” the public “that they have not been altered or destroyed and will not be destroyed throughout this case,” court documents show.

TIMELINE: The Jussie Smollett investigation

Smollett, who is black and openly gay, had told Chicago police that in late January in Streeterville, two white men yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him, poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck.

After weeks of investigation, Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct; police said he staged the attack and filed a false report.

Then, at a surprise hearing March 26, all charges were dropped.

O’Brien’s petition for a special prosecutor claimed Foxx’s handling of the case was “plagued with irregularity.”

“Foxx’s conflict in this matter is beyond dispute,” O’Brien wrote, adding that Foxx should have sought appointment of a special prosecutor. “Instead, Foxx misled the public into believing that Smollett’s case was handled like any other prosecution and without influence.”

Emails and text messages turned over to the Chicago Sun-Times, in response to a records request, showed that weeks before Smollett was charged, and when the actor was considered by police to be a crime victim, Foxx had talked to Chicago lawyer Tina Tchen, who put her in touch with a relative of Smollett’s. Foxx also acknowledged urging CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson to turn the investigation over the the FBI.

Jussie Smollett leaves court March 26 after charges were dropped. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Jussie Smollett leaves court March 26 after charges were dropped. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The Latest
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.