FBI to step in and investigate Jessie Smollett case
FBI agents are investigating the circumstances which prompted prosecutors to drop all criminal charges against actor Jussie Smollett after he was charged with allegedly staging a hate crime against himself.
Chicago lawmakers stunned city Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police officials when they abandoned the 16-count indictment against the Empire star on Tuesday, and now federal agents are now looking into why.
The investigation is good news for the Mayor, who insists Smollett is guilty. Appearing on TV show Good Morning America on Wednesday, Emanuel claimed the decision to let Smollett walk away without charges has made the city of Chicago look “foolish”. He also slammed the State Attorney’s decision, stating, “This is a whitewash of justice…”
Meanwhile, Chicago police chief Eddie Johnson has also blasted the Cook County State’s Attorney for dropping the disorderly conduct case against Smollett, who pleaded not guilty to 16 felony charges after he was accused of lying to police about a race-themed assault outside his apartment in Chicago, Illinois on January 29.
Police superintendent Johnson claimed he had staged the incident to raise his profile and his earning potential, citing witness statements from brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, who had initially been interviewed as possible suspects, but agreed to testify against the TV star after alleging Smollett had paid them to pull off the attack.
During a press conference hours after the State’s Attorney’s office announcement, the top cop said, “Smollett committed this hoax. Do I think justice was served? No. I think this city is still owed an apology.”
“My job as a police officer is to investigate an incident, gather evidence, gather the facts and present them to the State’s Attorney. That’s what we did,” he added. “I stand behind the detectives’ investigation.”
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