Chicago police are seething mad after prosecutors surprised the world this week by dismissing all charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett. Now, they’re refusing to let the case go and are even calling for a federal investigation into the state attorney.
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Kevin Graham, president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, says he wants to know why Kim Foxx, the state’s attorney for Cook County, recused herself from the Smollett investigation in mid-February. He also wants to know about reports that Foxx was involved in “diverting the case from [the] Chicago police department to a federal investigation.”
In remarks to reporters on Tuesday, Graham said he made his request to the US Department of Justice last week — and that he also asked federal investigators to look into whether Smollett sent a racially charged letter to himself only days before he was allegedly attacked on a Chicago street.
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“We’re doubling down on that. We want to make sure that the Justice Department takes a very hard look with that case and what went on today,” he said.
In dismissing the case, prosecutors said they cut a deal with Smollett to perform 2 days of community service and to forfeit the $10,000 bond he paid to the city of Chicago. The move allowed Smollett’s attorneys to get his criminal case immediately sealed, which caught Chicago police brass by surprise and brought condemnation from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who called it a “whitewash of justice.”
“He used the laws of the hate crime association that all of us through the years have put on the books to stand up to be the values that embody what we believe in. This is a whitewash of justice. A grand jury could not have been clearer.” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
However, despite anger from Chicago police over the eventual outcome, legal experts say dropping the case was likely the right move since prosecutors probably saw huge holes in the case and did the “best they could do in the interest of justice.”
“I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they looked at the evidence and didn’t feel they could prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said criminal defense attorney Sara Azari.
“This is not celebrity justice. This case is way too high-profile for a District Attorney’s office to just hand over a gift of exoneration to Jussie Smollett,” Azari added.
“I’ve heard that they wanted their day in court with TV cameras so America could know the truth and know they tried to hide behind secrecy to broker a deal to circumvent the judicial system.” Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson
Prosecutors took into consideration that they had no credible witnesses they could call, no video footage of the alleged attack, and that Smollett had no prior felonies and wasn’t a danger to the community. A trial would have cost the state money and would have likely ended with no jail time for the actor had he been convicted. So, it was in the best interest of all involved to not pursue prosecution.
“Prosecutors thinking about reviewing the evidence decide that maybe a criminal solution or criminal prosecution is no longer the most effective way to reach justice,” added former federal prosecutor, Laura Coates.
Meanwhile, word out of Hollywood is that a division exists between cast and crew members of “Empire,” who remain torn over Smollett’s guilt or innocence.
According to TMZ, there are people on the set — especially writers — who believe the dismissal of charges is a vindication and proves Jussie was a victim. However, there are also a number of people on set who believe Jussie staged the attack to squeeze more money out of producers and are shocked by the lack of consequences … and don’t want him back on the show.
For his part, Smollett says he has already paid the City of Chicago, has done his community service work, and simply wants to move forward.
“I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one,” Smollett told reporters in a statement. “I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I’ve been accused of.”
So we’ve got yet another investigation that’s resulted in a muddled mess. Our government is a dangerous joke. Our criminal justice system is a sick joke. And from the outside looking in our allies and enemies alike probably can’t believe just how truly jacked up WE are as a nation and a people.
I’ve said it more than once, Trump is a Our reckoning . He’s a reflection of Us. America.
The way Trump talks, thinks and behaves is very familiar to many or, dare I say, Millions of any Americans. No doubt Jussie can relate.
Of course the irony of Jussie’s hoax is that he tried to pin his fake attack on “MAGA” hat wearing Trump supporters. And like Trump, looks like Jussie is going to get away with his crimes too.
You really can’t make this sh*t up can you?….smh. Nope.