FOP Again Requests Feds Investigate Foxx

The Fraternal Order of Police has requested that federal authorities investigate Cook County Prosecutor Kimberly Foxx for her interference in the Jussie Smollett case and her role in several exonerations of convicted killers. 

FOP President Kevin Graham made the request to U.S. Attorney John Lausch in a March 15 letter concerning reports that Ms. Foxx attempted to influence the police investigation at the behest of an attorney and family members of Jussie Smollett.

“Such conduct merits a review by your office. Private attorneys are not allowed to interfere with ongoing police investigations, particularly at the request of private individuals associated with subjects being investigated by the police, in this case, a subject later determined to be the offender, not the victim,” Graham said in the letter.

“According to the media reports on public documents, one of Smollett’s relatives was communicating with Ms. Foxx about her request to transfer the case to the FBI. . . . As you probably also know, Ms. Foxx ultimately recused herself from this case as a prosecutor based on those communications with relatives of Jussie Smollett. That recusal is wholly insufficient. In order for Ms. Foxx to properly charge and try this case, her entire office should have recused itself and a special prosecutor been appointed.” 

Claiming that a possible “quid pro quo” pattern is emerging in Foxx’s office, FOP representatives have condemned Ms. Foxx’s release of several convicted killers during her administration that benefit law firms who supported her election campaign. 

“We have argued that Ms. Foxx has freed convicted killers without sufficient evidence of their innocence. These exonerations benefited law firms representing the offenders that have also contributed to her election campaign,” Graham said. 

One example from the FOP was the decision by the Foxx administration to vacate two felony convictions of high-ranking Spanish Cobra gang member Ricardo Rodriguez in February. Eliminating these 20-year-old convictions pave the way for Rodriquez to remain in the country and not face deportation. The FOP requested the federal Attorney General investigate that decision by Foxx. 

Foxx has also generated criticism from the FOP for failing to pursue felony charges when police officers are the victims of violent crime and threats of violent crime and policies that embolden criminal activity.