BACK TO YOU.

NEW LINE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE

JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE.

A CHICAGO JUDGE NAMING THE

SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WILL NOT

INVESTIGATE WHY OFFICIALS

ABRUPTLY DROPPED CHARGES AGAINST

THE ACTOR.

DESPITE ACCUSING HIM OF STAGING

A HATE CRIME ATTACK AGAINST

HIMSELF.

MATT FINN JOINS US FROM CHICAGO.

MATT?

>> MELISSA, WE ARE BASICALLY

BACK TO SQUARE ONE IN THE

JUSSIE SMOLLETT SAGA.

AS IF ALL THE PRIOR LEGAL

PROCEEDINGS HAD NEVER HAPPENED.

THIS NEW SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IS

NOW TASKED WITH INVESTIGATING

ANY PERSON OR ANY OFFICE IN THE

JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE.

THAT MEANS THE SPECIAL

PROSECUTOR COULD BRING THE SAME

OR A NEW CRIMINAL CHARGES

AGAINST THE ACTOR OR ANYONE

INSIDE OF KIM FOXX'S OFFICE.

SPECIAL PROSECUTOR NAMED TODAY

IS DAN WEBB.

HE'S A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY HERE

IN ILLINOIS THAT ALSO SERVED AS

COUNSEL ON THE IRAN CONTRA TRIA

TRIAL.

THE JUDGE MICHAEL TOMMIN

APPOINTED WEBB AND SAYS WEBB IS

IMMENSELY QUALIFIED.

>> THIS IS IMPORTANT.

JUDGE TOMMIN HAS MADE THAT CLEAR

TO ME.

HE THINKS THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SAYS IT'S

EFFECTIVE.

I INTEND TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY.

>> THAT SPECIAL PROSECUTOR SAYS

HE WILL TAKE GUIDANCE AND

MATERIAL FROM AGENCIES THAT

ALREADY INVESTIGATED, INCLUDING

THE FBI AND CHICAGO POLICE.

HE WILL INTERVIEW WITNESSES.

FROM ILLINOIS APPELLATE JUSTICE

SHEILA O'BRIEN CAN BE CREDITED

WITH A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR BEING

APPOINTED TODAY.

JUSTICE O'BRIEN FILED THE

PETITION IN COURT AFTER KIM

FOX'S OFFICE DROPPED THE CHARGES

AGAINST SMOLLETT.

SHE SINCE THE PUBLIC DESERVES

THE ENTIRE TRUTH, NO DRESSES

O'BRIEN SAYS SHE HOPES KIM FOXX

WILL TESTIFY UNDER OATH AND IS

NOT CONCERNED WITH WHETHER

SMOLLETT IS CHARGED AGAIN.

>> IF MR. WEBB DECIDES NOT TO

BRING CHARGES, WHAT I BE

DISAPPOINTED?

NO.

I'M NOT CONCERNED WITH THE

OUTCOME.

THIS WAS ALL ABOUT THE FAIRNESS

OF THE PROCESS.

>> IN A STATEMENT A SHORT WHILE

AGO, KIM FOX'S OFFICE INDICATED

THEY WILL COOPERATE WITH THE

SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR AND