Chicago prosecutor under renewed scrutiny over Jussie Smollett case

The prosecutor who texted Jussie Smollett's family at the request of a former Michelle Obama aide to discuss getting the FBI to take over the Empire actor's case has come under renewed scrutiny after all charges against him were sensationally dropped. 

Chicago police are furious about Tuesday's decision to drop Smollett's charges and are demanding that Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx be investigated over her handling of the investigation. 

Foxx recused herself from the case last month for exchanging text messages with one of Smollett's relatives in the days after the actor told police he was attacked on January 29.

Police now want Foxx to face an Attorney General investigation for trying to wrestle the case out of the Chicago Police Department's hands and have it led by the FBI instead. 

Authorities are concerned about whose interests Foxx was working in when she - after being contacted by former Michelle Obama aide Tina Tchen - tried to steer the investigation in the direction the Smollett family wanted. 

Foxx's connections to Tchen and the Smollett family came under renewed scrutiny on Tuesday following the shock decision to drop all charges against the Empire actor.

It remains unclear what prompted the decision but the Cook County's State's Attorney's office said it was due in part to Smollett's 'volunteer service in the community'.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson spoke of their shock and dismay at the State's Attorney's decision to drop all the charges against Smollett.

They said they were stunned to learn about it at the same time as the media and suggested that Smollett - who they insist is guilty - was treated differently because he is a star.