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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx says the National District Attorneys Association -- which has criticized her office's handling of the Jussie Smollett case -- is itself engaging in behavior "unbecoming of a prosecutor."
The prosecutors association, commenting specifically on the Smollett case, this week said: "Prosecutors should not take advice from politically connected friends of the accused."
That is a reference to communication between State's Attorney Foxx and Tina Tchen, a Chicago lawyer, a past chief of staff for Michelle Obama and a friend of the Smollett family.
Foxx tells WBBM the East Coast-based prosecutors association is basically speaking out of turn.
"Reading something from afar and making an analysis of it is not what prosecutors do -- we have to be held to a higher standard,” Foxx said. “And so I was certainly disappointed that the national organization that represents prosecutors across the country would engage in behavior that's outside of their ethical norms."
Foxx’s office has found itself beset by controversy this week when the first assistant dropped disorderly conduct charges against Smollett as part of an “alternative prosecution” under which the “Empire” actor performed community service and forfeited his $10,000 bond. He allegedly lied about being beaten up and targeted by anti-gay and racist attackers as a publicity stunt.
The move by the state’s attorney’s office blindsided Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Supt. Eddie Johnson and especially angered them after Smollett indicated he was innocent of the charges.
The National District Attorneys Association took issue with that aspect of the resolution, too.
"A case with the consequential effects of Mr. Smollett's should not be resolved without a finding of guilt or innocence,” the organization said.
Foxx responded: "There are many times when we ask a person to make an admission of guilt, but the Illinois statute does not make that a requirement."
Foxx also dismissed calls by President Trump for the Justice Department to investigate what he calls an “outrageous” case.
"Very little surprises me about this president,” she said.