Former US Attorney Webb Named Prosecutor in Smollett Case

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Published on August 26 2019 3:09 pm
Last Updated on August 26 2019 3:09 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Former US Attorney Dan Webb has been appointed special prosecutor in the case of actor Jussie Smollett.

Smollett is being investigated for allegedly staging an attack in Chicago in January that he originally said had racial and homophobic overtones. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office subsequently charged Smollett with 16 counts of disorderly conduct for the reportedly staged attack, then suddenly dropped the charges, angering city officials and the police.

Cook County Judge Michael Toomin Friday appointed Webb as special prosecutor. Toomin had contacted a number of attorneys as to their interest in serving as special prosecutor. The list at one point included Clay County State's Attorney Andrew Koester.

Webb was a federal prosecutor, then became one of Chicago's highest profile defense attorneys, with former governor George Ryan among his clients.