JUST IN: @ChuckGoudieABC7 @RossWeidner and the @ABC7Chicago I-Team obtain Chicago police documents from the Jussie Smollett case. Click the “FILE” links here:
All 16 felony disorderly conduct counts against Smollett for allegedly lying to police were dropped in exchange for community service and forfeiture of his $10,000 bond payment.
The ABC7 I-Team has obtained the CPD investigative file for the Jussie Smollett case.
Click below to read the files.
READ: CPD SMOLLETT CASE FILES:
dig.abclocal.go.com/wls/documents/032719-wls-smollett-files1.pdf
dig.abclocal.go.com/wls/documents/032719-wls-smollett-files2.pdf
Original press conference the day he was arrested
CHICAGO (WLS) — One day after charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett were dropped, many questions still remain.
Prosecutors maintain they still believe the attack on him last January in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood was a hoax.
The stunning turn of events has left some people outraged and others confused.
The decision drew a sharp response from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, with Emanuel calling it a “whitewash of justice.”
“Mr. Smollett is still saying that he is innocent, still running down the Chicago Police Department,” Mayor Emanuel said.
“How dare him?
How dare him?”
abc7chicago.com/jussie-smollett-update-police-investigative-files-on-empire-actor-released/5219838/
Called it, hope he follows through on it!
After publicly blasting the decision to drop 16 charges against embattled “Empire” star Jussie Smollett, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is considering suing the actor to recoup some of the money the city wasted on the lengthy investigation, according to reports.
Emanuel wants to recoup close to $150,000, CBS News reported. Charges against Smollett were dropped after 16 hours of community service and an agreement to forfeit his $10,000, a figure Emanuel said Tuesday “doesn’t even come close to what the city spent in resources” on the case.
Hope he tries it, they have a mountain of evidence on him
Tina Glandian, one of Smollett’s attorneys, appeared on “Good Morning America” Wednesday reinforcing her client’s innocence. When asked by the morning show’s co-anchor George Stephanopoulos if Smollett’s team plans to sue police, she said they were currently weighing their options.
Joe Magats, first assistant state’s attorney, took over the case when his boss, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, recused herself from the probe after it surfaced that she had been in touch with Smollett’s family.
“This was not an exoneration.
To say that he was exonerated by us or anyone is not true,” Magats said.
“We believe he did what he was charged with doing.”
abc7chicago.com/jussie-smollett-update-police-investigative-files-on-empire-actor-released/5219838/
A federal probe by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service into whether Smollett played a role in sending a threatening letter to himself prior to the allegedly staged attack remains open, despite Tuesday’s developments, a law enforcement official told ABC News.
Smollett completed 16 hours of community service with The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a human/civil rights organization in Chicago, Magats and the organization confirmed.
Rainbow PUSH Coalition actually reached out to Smollett, according to a statement issued Tuesday night.
abc7chicago.com/jussie-smollett-update-police-investigative-files-on-empire-actor-released/5219838/
Smollett attorney wants focus on brothers’ role in attack
CHICAGO
Now that charges have been dropped against Jussie Smollett, the “Empire” actor’s attorney is trying to shift attention back on two brothers who told police they were paid by Smollett to help stage a racist, anti-gay attack on him.
Investigators should look into the role of brothers Abimbola “Abel” Osundairo and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo, who are of Nigerian descent, attorney Patricia Brown Holmes said after prosecutors dropped all 16 charges against Smollett on Tuesday.
“The two men who attacked him have indicated that theynattacked him,” Holmes said.
www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/article228467914.html#storylink=cpy
Smollett maintained his innocence even as Magats insists that the arrangement should not be viewed as an exoneration. As part of the deal, Smollett agreed to forfeit $10,000 he put up as bond to secure his release from Cook County Jail after he was charged.
State Rep. Michael McAuliffe, who represents a district that includes parts of the city’s Northwest Side, said he will introduce legislation this week that would prohibit any production using Smollett from receiving Illinois Film Tax Credits.
“Empire” is one of several television shows that films in Chicago and is eligible for 30 percent state tax credit. The state also offers an additional 15 percent tax credit for labor in high poverty areas.
“Where the city of Chicago is concerned, Jussie Smollett is far from exonerated,” Rep. McAullife said in a statement.
“While the state’s sttorney has chosen not to pursue justice in this case, we need to send a message that Smollett’s actions are not a reflection of the values we have in Chicago and won’t be tolerated.
His accusations and lies caused a lot of pain to all Chicagoans.”
h/t kpm