The special prosecutor assigned to investigate why State Attorney Kim Foxx dropped the fabrication case against actor Jussie Smollett has reportedly donated to Ms. Foxx’s campaign.
In a report from The Chicago Tribune, Dan K. Webb says he does not remember donating $1,000 to Ms. Foxx’s campaign while at a fundraiser for Ms. Foxx his law firm, Winston & Strawn, cohosted. Mr. Webb was also reportedly listed as a “host” of the fundraiser.
“I should point out that it is common for Winston partners to host fundraisers for political candidates at our firm,” Mr. Webb wrote in an affidavit to Judge Michael Toomin, who chose him as special prosecutor in August. “It is also common that my Winston partners request that I contribute to these fundraisers.”
Mr. Webb said Ms. Foxx’s attorney, Michael Bromwich, brought this information up to him and “made it clear” they will not claim a conflict of interest or “any other objection related to this contribution.”
Mr. Webb is expected to address this donation during a hearing on Friday.
The Chicago Police Department believe the “Empire actor faked his own assault by paying two “attackers” to fake his own hate crime to help his career. Mr. Smollett has denied the accusation.
The Cook County state’s attorney office — headed by Ms. Foxx — handed down 16 counts of disorderly conduct in February but dropped the entire case in March with little explanation.
Both then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson slammed the news saying in a joint press conference they found out about the dropped charges at the same time the public did.
Mr. Emanuel called it a “white out of justice.”
“It’s Mr. Smollett who committed this hoax. He’s still saying he’s innocent, still running down the Chicago Police Department. How dare he. How dare he,” he said at the time.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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