Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has become an outspoken critic of prosecutors’ decision to drop all criminal charges — 16 felonies — against Empire star Jussie Smollett, who was believed to have staged a hate crime attack against him in the city.
First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats and Kim Foxx, the Cook County, Illinois State Attorney, were key in Smollett’s charges being dropped.
During an appearance on CNN after the news broke, Emanuel could not believe the actor was not being held accountable.
“It makes no sense,” Emanuel told CNN host Wolf Blitzer. “It makes no legal sense. It makes no common sense. And this is an abomination of my sense of justice. It’s just not right. It’s not right on any level.”
Perhaps the most bizarre part of Smollett’s charges being dropped is the fact that the prosecutor who made the decision does not believe the actor is innocent.
“I do not believe he is innocent,” First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats told CBS Chicago.
Smollett claimed he was attacked in a potential hate crime by two assailants in Chicago back in January. According to Smollett, the alleged attackers screamed homophobic and racial slurs before attacking him, placing a noose around his neck, and pouring bleach on him. However, it is now believed that Smollett paid two Nigerian brothers to orchestrate the attack on himself. He has maintained his innocence.
Just one week ago, the Chicago Police Union called for a federal investigation into Kim Foxx’s handling of the Smollett case. The request was due to Foxx exchanging text messages and emails with relatives and a supporter of Smollett, who was Michelle Obama’s former Chief of Staff, according to the Chicago Tribune.
