Jussie Smollett Charges Dropped & The Mayor Has Some Things To Say!!!
According to TMZ
“10:45 AM PT — Mayor Rahm Emanuel is very strongly hinting at corruption in the State’s Attorney’s Office, calling the decision to drop the charges against Smollett a “whitewash of justice.”
The Mayor added, “From top to bottom, this is not on the level.” He called for accountability from the prosecutors.
Emanuel was joined by Chicago PD Superintendent Eddie Johnson who said he didn’t feel justice was served by letting Smollett off the hook.
What’s more, Johnson said if Jussie was, in fact, innocent … he should’ve taken his day in court, and not broker a backdoor deal in secrecy. Bigger picture — Johnson feels the City of Chicago is still owed an apology, as he believes Jussie carried out a hoax.
10:15 AM PT — FOX says, “Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified that all charges against him have been dismissed.”
As for WHY they were dropped — you’ll recall State’s Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the case. She reportedly had asked cops to stand down at the behest of Tina Tchen — Michelle Obama’s former Chief of Staff and a friend of Jussie’s family. The conflict forced Foxx to bow out.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office tells us the decision to drop all charges against Jussie was made by Joseph Magats — the First Assistant State’s Attorney — who was placed in charge of the case after Foxx’s recusal, and NOT by Foxx.
It’s still odd. Sources tell TMZ the prosecutor in the case, as late as Friday afternoon, was making plans to handle issues involving cameras in the courtroom for the trial … and seemed completely unaware of plans to drop the case.
9:22 AM PT — Jussie and his lawyer, Patricia Holmes, just addressed the media, and the takeaway message was simple … he’s happy and wants to get on with his life. Holmes reiterated this was not a deal Jussie struck with prosecutors — instead, they dropped the charges on their own, and he forfeited his bond voluntarily … it wasn’t a tit-for-tat situation.” read more here