A new development has materialized in the Jussie Smollett controversy, which could result in the reopening of the criminal case.

From NBC News:

“A judge ruled Friday that a special prosecutor needs to investigate Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx’s handling of the Jussie Smollett case and that the Empire actor should be re-examined for possible criminal charges.

“Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael Toomin ruled in favor of Sheila O’Brien, a former appellate judge who had called for a special prosecutor to find why charges were dropped against Smollett over his allegedly false report that he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack.”

Prosecutor Foxx is a Soros-funded, Obama-connected Democrat. Foxx has yet to indicate whether she was appeal the judge’s order.

After a thorough investigation by an army of detectives in crime-ridden Chicago, cops determined that the Smollett incident was a hoax, The Daily Caller noted.

The Smollett incident is one of many alleged hate crime hoaxes across the country that have falsely been pinned on Trump supporters.

Added the Chicago Tribune:

“The whole episode has been costly for Smollett, who won’t return to his role for the final season of the Fox series. He also faces a lawsuit from the city of Chicago seeking to recoup the cost of police overtime for investigating the incident, and his attorneys have been sued for defamation by two brothers who claim Smollett paid them to help stage an attack on him.”

If Jussie Smollett is charged, it might give a new meaning to the prior “Justice for Jussie” social media campaign.

Added from the New York Post:

“Hours after State’s Attorney Kim Foxx deflected blame to her former chief ethics officer for her decision to not appoint a special prosecutor in the Jussie Smollett case, that former staffer called Foxx’s assertions lies

“April Perry, who served as Foxx’s chief ethics officer until May, sent an email to reporters Friday that contradicted statements Foxx made shortly after a Chicago judge slammed her handling of the Smollett case and appointed a special prosecutor Friday.

“Foxx said she was just following ‘the advice and counsel of my then Chief Ethics Officer’ when she opted out of ordering a special prosecutor — but Perry said the opposite to be true.

“’My advice was that First Assistant Joseph Magats seek the court’s approval and request a Special State’s Attorney appointment in this matter.  I prepared a motion and order to that effect, and e-mailed it to the First Assistant on February 20. Shortly after sending that email, the First Assistant advised me that State’s Attorney Foxx determined that the motion and order should not be filed,’ Perry wrote in an email.”

[Featured Image credit: Dominick D, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 license]