Criminal charges against the actor, Jussie Smollett were dropped after the “Empire” actor pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police about a hate crime. However, the court still believes he is guilty, and people think there has been a payoff.
Jussie Smollett made an “emergency” court appearance on Tuesday, where 16 felony charges against him were dropped. The actor was previously accused of filing a false police report after allegedly staging a hate crime against himself.
His lawyer in a statement confirms that all the criminal charges against the actor have been dropped and his record wiped clean.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office called the development “a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case,” although it wasn’t clear what prompted the move to drop the charges.
Less than two weeks ago, Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police about a hate crime. Smollett has insisted he is innocent and said Tuesday he has been “truthful and consistent” since the beginning.
Statement from Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
“After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case,” the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday.
Smollett had posted $10,000 bond to be released from jail after he was arrested in late February.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel after hearing the news said that “this is a whitewash of justice.” He and Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson spoke after the charges against Smollett were dropped without an explanation from prosecutors.
Emanuel said this “sends a clear message that if you’re in a position of influence and power you’ll get treated one way, other people will be treated another way.”
“There is no accountability, then, in the system. It is wrong, full stop,” he said.
“Our officers did hard work day in and day out, countless hours, working to unwind what actually happened that night,” he said. “The city saw its reputation dragged through the mud.”
Johnson said the city “is still owed an apology.”
“I’ve heard that they wanted their day in court with TV cameras so that America could know the truth,” he said. “They chose to hide behind secrecy and broker a deal to circumvent the judicial system.”
Actor Smollete in a statement said
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