State's attorney expresses regret over dealing with Smollett relative early in probe

CHICAGO - Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, facing intense criticism after her office dropped all charges against Jussie Smollett, stood by the decision but said she regretted dealing with one of Smollett's relatives in the early phases of the investigation.

Foxx said she would never have gotten involved if she knew that Smollett would later be deemed a suspect and not a victim.

"I've never had a victim that turned into a suspect," she told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday. " ... In hindsight as we see (how) all of it has played out, you know, is there regret that I engaged with the family member? Absolutely."

Due to her contact with that family member, Foxx withdrew from involvement in the case when investigators started casting suspicion on Smollett, who had reported to police that he was the victim of a hate crime.

Smollett was later indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct on