High-profile former US attorney David Webb has been appointed special prosecutor to re-examine the Jussie Smollett case.
He will not only examine how the case was handled before charges were dropped, but he also has the power to decide whether new charges should be filed.
via Page Six:
About a month after Smollett was arrested on 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct for filing a police report, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx quietly dropped all charges against the actor with little explanation, angering cops and other city officials.
A former state appellate judge, Sheila O’Brien, sought the special prosecutor following the decision. Toomin sided with her in a somewhat unexpected ruling when he determined Foxx had mishandled the case.
Early in the investigation, Foxx announced she was recusing herself from the probe because she had exchanged text messages with a member of Smollett’s family and promised to help them.
But instead of removing her entire office from the probe, Foxx just appointed her top deputy, Joe Magats, to act in her stead. It was a move Toomin determined invalidated the entire case from beginning to end.
Webb has been instructed by Toomin to investigate Foxx’s decision and Smollett’s alleged crimes, which could bring new charges against the actor and anyone else involved with the case.
Smollett’s lawyers previously slammed the ruling and called the case a “travesty of justice.”
Oh — it’s not over!