>That means Smollett may not be clear of criminal charges that he staged an attack on himself in January in Chicago and then lied to police about it, describing it as racist and homophobic.
>Even though county prosecutors dropped 16 felony charges against him in March, a special prosecutor could potentially revive the charges.
>Cook County Judge Michael Toomin ruled Wednesday that he will not reconsider his decision to appoint a special prosecutor to examine how State's Attorney Kim Foxx handled the Smollett case.
>Toomin decided in June to make the appointment, urged on by a retired judge angry about Foxx's handling of the Smollett case. Toomin hasn't said yet who the special prosecutor will be.
>His decision not to reconsider also is bad news for Foxx, who opposed being investigated by a special prosecutor over the Smollett case.
>Foxx and her office are already under investigation by the Cook County inspector general's office; another embarrassing probe could be inconvenient just as she and her prosecutors are preparing to try another celebrity, singer R. Kelly, on multiple sex-crime charges.
[YouTube] Judge upholds decision to appoint special prosecutor in Smollett case
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