Jussie Smollett has had about all he can take with city officials, so he’s asking for an ongoing lawsuit filed by the city of Chicago to be taken to the federal level.
According to a motion filed by Smollett’s legal team, and obtained by The Blast, the former “Empire” star wants a federal judge to preside over the proceedings as the City of Chicago tries to recover $130,000 in costs from the investigation into his alleged hoax attack.
As grounds for movement to the federal courts, Smollett’s attorneys argue the star is a resident in California, which fits the bill for moving the case to a federal courthouse.
Currently, the case is being handled by the Cook County Circuit Court … the same court he may still face charges of filling a false police report after a judge appointed a special prosecutor to reexamine the case, including a hard look at State Attorney Kim Foxx.
As we reported, the judge also announced the special prosecutor may further prosecute Smollett if there are “reasonable grounds to believe that any other criminal offense was committed.”
The judge explained that the special prosecutor was appointed to “restore the public’s confidence in the integrity of our criminal justice system.”
At the time, Foxx said she recused herself after she had conversations with a relative of Smollett’s before he was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly faking the attack against himself.
First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats took over the case and prosecutors ended up dropping all charges against Smollett after the “Empire” star. He performed 16 hours of community service and agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bail but did not admit any guilt in the alleged incident.
A judge has not yet ruled on the request to move the case.
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