In a shocking development Tuesday morning, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office dropped all charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, and records of his case will be sealed, in a decision made just a month after a grand jury charged Smollett with 16 counts of felony misconduct.
Smollett, instead of facing trial, will instead forfeit his bond payment of $10,000, according to reports.
BREAKING: Prosecutors drop charges against Jussie Smollett; “Empire” actor will forfeit $10,000 bond payment, have records in case sealed just over a month after he was charged
— Andy Grimm (@agrimm34) March 26, 2019
The judge granted what is called a “nolle pros,” allowing all charges to be dropped against Smollett at the request of the prosecutor’s office. According to a tip from the Chicago Police Department, the State’s Attorney’s office believes Smollett has performed “community service” and does not require an official sentence.
My #CPD tip says SA Kim Foxx’s office is dropping the charges against #JussieSmollett because “he already did community service”. It’s unclear when he actually did that community service.
— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) March 26, 2019
After reviewing details and evidence, the state says #JussieSmollett’s work in the community is why they are axing the case. @fox32news
— Tia A. Ewing (@TIA_EWING) March 26, 2019
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office confirmed that Smollett has been given leeway because of his service to the people of Chicago in a statement to reporters.
“After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollet’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,” the statement read.
The statement did not indicate Smollett had been cleared of the alleged crimes, just that his behavior had somehow balanced out the need to charge him over the incident. The “community service” referenced in the statement was, according to local news sources, done in reference to a separate case or incident.
The community service according to #Smollett defense team was done prior for something not related to this case. It just gets more confusing.
— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) March 26, 2019
Sources inside the Chicago Police Department tell the Daily Wire that Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is “furious” over the development.
Foxx had, initially, recused herself from the case amid concerns that she had direct contact with one of Smollett’s relatives in the lead up to issuing charges. Last week, the Fraternal Order of Police in Chicago issued a formal complaint to the United States Attorney’s office, claiming that Foxx had attempted to interfere in the Smollett investigation, with the help of a Smollett relative and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff.
Smollett’s attorney was, of course, thrilled with the development.
“Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false & inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement,” his legal team said in a statement to media.
Charges against Jussie Smollett have been dropped by the state and his record has been wiped clean. pic.twitter.com/lHpLvBGc3S
— (@WashNews) March 26, 2019
Smollett was charged with 17 separate misdemeanor and felony counts for allegedly faking a racially motivated attack on January 29th. Smollett told police that he was attacked by two unidentified men who beat him, threw a rope around his neck, and poured an unknown chemical substance on his clothes. A police investigation reportedly revealed a complex conspiracy to stage the attack. A Federal investigation, into a letter containing a “white powder,” sent to Smollett at the “Empire” studios, is still pending.
In an update to this story: the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office is now clarifying their decision to drop charges against Smollett, noting that they are not “exonerating” Smollett of any crime, but rather, are prioritizing “violent crime.”
NEW from Chicago: Joe Magats, the first assistant state’s attorney who made the final decision to drop the charges against Jussie Smollett, says in an interview: “We didn’t exonerate him.”
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) March 26, 2019
Magats, the asst state’s atty, said he saw no problems with the police investigation or the evidence against Smollett. The charges against Smollett were dropped in return for his agreement to do community service, he said, and for forfeiting his bond to the city of Chicago.
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) March 26, 2019
More from the asst state’s attorney: “Here’s the thing — we work to prioritize violent crime and the drivers of violent crime. Public safety is our number one priority. I don’t see Jussie Smollett as a threat to public safety.”
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) March 26, 2019
“We stand behind the investigation, we stand behind the decision to charge him and we stand behind the charges in the case. The mere fact that it was disposed of in an alternative manner does not mean that there were any problems or infirmities in the case or the evidence.”
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) March 26, 2019
Smollett spoke to media after his court appearance and maintained his innocence in the matter.
This is a breaking story and The Daily Wire will continue to update this piece with further developments.
