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It seems like the Jussie Smollett case just gets more intense. It was reported that Chicago’s Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx referred to “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett as a “washed up celeb who lied to cops.” Text messages from Foxx were released on Tuesday by her office, in response to a “public-records request by the Chicago Tribune.”
These surfacing text messages were a conversation between her and her top assistant, Joseph Magats. “Sooo……I’m recused, but when people accuse us of overcharging cases…16 counts on a class 4 (felony) becomes exhibit A,” she texted. She also compared the Jussie Smollett case to R. Kelly’s. “Pedophile with 4 victims 10 counts. Washed up celeb who lied to cops, 16 (counts). Just because we can charge something doesn’t mean we should.”
In a statement, Foxx defended her text messages. “After the indictment became public, I reached out to Joe to discuss reviewing office policies to assure consistencies in our charging and our use of appropriate charging authority,” Foxx said in a statement obtained by USA Today. “I was elected to bring criminal justice reform and that includes intentionality, consistency, and discretion. I will continue to uphold these guiding principles.”