(CNN) The top prosecutor in Chicago did not formally recuse herself from the Jussie Smollett investigation, her office said Thursday.

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx only separated herself from decision-making in the "Empire" star's case out of "an abundance of caution," and not based on any conflict of interest, her office said Thursday.

"Although we used the term 'recuse' as it relates to State's Attorney Foxx's involvement in this matter, it was a colloquial use of the term rather than in its legal sense," the office said in a statement.

Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman from her office, announced last month that Foxx had been removed from the case to address potential concerns of impartiality "based upon familiarity with potential witnesses in the case."

Foxx told CNN affiliate WLS on Wednesday that she did so when it was clear Smollett's role in the case was changing from victim to suspect. She also noted that she consulted her department's chief ethics officer.

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