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By Doha Madani
The Chicago Police Union has demanded the resignation of Cook County's lawyer Kimberly Foxx, after prosecutors dropped 16 charges against the "l & # 39; actor." 39; Empire "Jussie Smollett.
The city's fraternal police order and suburban police chiefs' associations announced a "no-confidence" vote against Foxx at a joint press conference Thursday afternoon.
"We are grateful to the top police officials gathered in one voice to demand the resignation of Cook County Lawyer, Kimberly Foxx," said Kevin Graham, president of the Order of Police fraternal.
Graham said the vote was not just about the Smollett case, but pointed out that the high-profile incident had undermined public confidence in the Chicago criminal justice system.
But Foxx said Thursday that she was proud of her record.
"The people of Cook County elected me to ensure the safety of the community, prevent harm and uphold the values of fairness and equal justice," Foxx said in a statement. "I am proud of my record, and I plan to do it until the end of my term and, if the people wish, in the future. "
Smollett was indicted by a grand jury of 16 felony heads for disorderly conduct after being accused of lying to the police for being the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime on March 8. The actor told police officers in January that masked men had thrown him beat.
The Chicago police said after questioning two brothers identified as people of interest in the case that Smollett paid $ 3,500 to the duo to orchestrate the attack.
A little over two weeks after the indictment, prosecutors dropped all charges against Smollett at an unannounced hearing.
Smollett's file has been sealed.
The Northern Chiefs Association in a letter on Monday accused Foxx's office of ignoring the crime "regardless of any ancillary cost."
"The fact that you and your staff made these decisions without consulting our departments contradicts any statement by you that the Cook County Attorney's Office works with us to maintain safe and crime-free communities," the letter said.
Foxx had withdrawn from this high-profile case before Smollett was charged and handed over to his deputy. A representative of his office had stated at the time that the challenge "was intended to address potential issues of impartiality based on the knowledge of witnesses Cas."
The Chicago Sun-Times later reported that Tina Tchen, a lawyer in Chicago and former chief of staff of former first lady Michelle Obama, had put Foxx in touch with members of Smollet's family a few days after He had told police that he was the alleged attack victim.
The Brotherhood Police Order called for a federal investigation into Foxx's role in the decision not to prosecute Smollett.
Foxx spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said last month that the Smollett case was not treated differently than the more than 5,700 other "prosecution actions" taken by the bureau in the past two years.
"This is not a new or unusual practice," said Simonton in a statement.
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