A short time later, a spokeswoman texted back to say she had notified a Police Department spokesman who would tell Superintendent Eddie Johnson.

About 10 minutes later, Foxx texted Magats: "Eddie just called. (He) needed to know how to answer questions from press."

Foxx said she told Johnson that Smollett's charges were dismissed since he completed community service and gave his bond money _ $10,000 _ to the city.

"He seemed satisfied with the explanation," Foxx told Magats.

However, Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel held a news conference that morning slamming the decision _ "a whitewash of justice," the mayor said bluntly.

Foxx withdrew herself from the case in February after she had been in contact with one of Smollett's relatives early during the investigation. But Foxx's office has since said she removed herself from the case only informally, since an actual recusal would have required her entire office to step aside and request the appointment of a special prosecutor.