Chicago police union wants federal investigation into Kim Foxx's handling of Smollett case

CHICAGO (FOX 32) - The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), which represents 8,000 Chicago cops, sent a letter to John Lausch, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, asking for a federal investigation into how Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx handled the Jussie Smollett case.

Before charges were even filed against Smollett, Foxx recused herself from prosecuting the case, but wouldn't say why.

Last week, the Tribune obtained emails showing that while police were still in the middle of their investigation into the alleged hate crime, Foxx was contacted by a politically-connected attorney friendly with Smollett’s family, saying they had "concerns about the investigation."

Foxx then asked Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to end the police investigation and turn it over to the FBI, which never happened. The union believes Foxx may have broken the law when she tried to take the case away from Chicago police.

In the letter to the U.S. attorney, the FOP says: "...attorneys are not allowed to interfere with ongoing police investigations, particularly at the request of private individuals associated with subjects being investigated....(her) whole office should have recused itself and a special prosecutor been appointed." 

FOX 32 reached out to a spokesperson for State's Attorney Foxx for comment on the FOP’s request but so far have not received any response.