Justice for Jussie Smollett after all charges are dropped

The prosecutor who decided to drop the charges against Jussie Smollett admitted on Tuesday that he does not believe the Empire star is innocent, but claimed he dropped the case because the actor has no criminal background.

First Assistant State’sAttorney Joe Magats said that he thought Smollett was guilty but that ‘based on the facts and circumstances’ of the case and his ‘lack of criminal background’, the decision was made not to pursue the 16 felony disorderly conduct charges that a grand jury returned.

It came after a furious press conference from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson who decried it as a ‘whitewash of justice’ and said Smollett got off ‘scot-free’ because he is famous.

As Magats spoke out, more details of Smollett’s ‘deal’ with prosecutors emerged.

Between Saturday and Monday, he spent 16 hours performing community service at Rainbow Push, a civil rights organization in Chicago where he ‘worked in bookstores, sold merchandise, stuffed envelopes, spoke to students and helped in the video department.’

Smollett’s family has claimed that even though he forfeited $10,000 in bond money and completed community service, they did not make a deal with prosecutors. They claim he has been completely vindicated by the outcome and that it proves he was telling the truth all along.

I do not believe he is innocent

Magats told CBS on Tuesday afternoon.

He also dismissed the mayor’s criticism, saying:

Not true, it’s just not. It’s not a whitewash, he did community service, he has forfeited his bond, it’s just not a whitewash.

Magats insisted that State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx, who recused herself from the case because she had exchanged text messages with a member of Smollett’s family in the days after the incident, did not impact his decision.

Foxx is accused of trying to wrestle it out of the hands of the Chicago PD and have the FBI take it over at the request of Smollett family friend Tina Tchen, who is Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff.

The police union in Chicago says it should have gone to a special prosecutor and believe it is especially suspicious given Tuesday’s outcome.  

Mayor Emanuel said the sudden decision to drop the charges proved there is ‘one set of rules for the powerful and influential’ and another for others which he said sent a ‘clear’ and ‘wrong’ ‘message’.

He and Johnson were blindsided by the announcement which they learned of while attending a police academy graduation ceremony.

Jussie Smollett is arrested for filing a false police report on racism and homophobia

‘Without a doubt this is a whitewash of justice and sends a clear message that if you are in a position of influence and power, you’ll be treated one way. It is wrong,’ Mayor Emanuel said.

‘Not only do I support the hard work of the police department, I’d like to remind everybody a grand jury indicted this individual based on only a piece of the evidence the police had gathered,’ he said.

He went on to condemn Smollett for speaking out after the court hearing and protesting his innocence.

Daily Mail.