Jussie Smollett's attorney complained the actor's chief "washed out" too hard – deadline

Recent e-mails and text messages reveal that Cook County attorney Kim Foxx, whose office oversaw the Jussie Smollett case, believed that the 16 charges for disorderly conduct against the Empire actor were too severe.

Thousands of SMS and internal emails regarding the investigation were released Tuesday night following a request from the Freedom of Information Act of the Chicago Tribune.

On Feb. 19, Foxx's office announced that she was recusing herself, but electronic communications later show her, claiming that the charges against a "washed-up star who had lied to the police" were too harsh compared to the charges of sexual abuse of which R. Kelly is the object. .

"So … I'm challenged, but when people accuse us of overloading business … 16 accounts on a class 4 become part A," Foxx wrote in a text message to his assistant, Joseph Magats, on March 8th.

"Pedophile with 4 victims 10 counts of accusation. Washed celebrity who lied to the cops, 16. On a case that may be subject to delayed prosecution, I think that's an indication of something we should be looking at in general terms. It's not because we can accuse anyone that we should do it, "she said two weeks before the charges were dropped against Smollett.

After being recused, Foxx's office issued a statement to the Chicago media explaining why she was contacting one of the leading MPs about the case: "Once the act is over from the prosecution made public, I contacted Joe so that he reviews the policies of the office in order to ensure the consistency of our accusations and our actions. use of the appropriate billing authority. I was elected to bring a criminal justice reform, which includes intentionality, consistency and discretion. I will continue to defend these guiding principles. "

Smollett told the police that he was assaulted on January 29 by two masked men in the streets of Chicago while they were shouting racist and homophobic insults.

The actor, who is African-American and gay, said that the assailants passed a rope around his neck, sprayed him with a chemical agent and shouted to him: "This is a MAGA country." Police later said that Smollett had paid the Ola brothers and Abel Osundairo to organize the attack. .

The actor was arrested and charged with 16 counts of allegedly filing a false police report. He pleaded not guilty. Yet, on March 26, Cook County State Attorney decided to withdraw his charges after agreeing to waive his $ 10,000 bond and carry out public works.

Kelly, in February, was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. Chicago prosecutors allege that R & B singer, who ranks first, has sexually assaulted four women, including three minor, the alleged abuse that took place between 1998 and 2010. Kelly denied the charges.