Actor’s in the clear

Anger at ‘whitewashed’ justice as Smollett charges dropped

INFURIATING Chicago’s mayor and police chief, prosecutors yesterday abruptly dropped all charges against actor Jussie Smollett, who had been accused of faking a racist, anti-gay attack on himself.

The case was dropped after Smollett agreed to do community service and let the city keep his $10,000 bail surety.

In dropping cases, prosecutors will sometimes insist a defendant accept at least a measure of responsibility. But Smollett still insists he was attacked and had “been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one”.

“I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I was being accused of,” Smollett said outside the court, thanking the state of Illinois “for attempting to do what’s right”.

And Smollett’s lawyer Patricia Brown Holmes said her client had been “attacked by two people he was unable to identify” and he “was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator”.

Prosecutors alleged Smollett, who is black and gay, knew the men and arranged for them to pretend to attack him.

First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats said prosecutors “stand behind the investigation and the facts” but did not explain why they were abandoning the case.

Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel called the deal “a whitewash of justice”, lashing Smollett for dragging the city’s reputation “through the mud”.

He also said the hoax could endanger other gay people who report hate crimes by casting doubt on their veracity.

Smollett’s lawyers said his record was now “wiped clean” of the 16 felony counts related to the false report allegation.

The Cook County prosecutors’ office said the dismissal came “after reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case” but was not an exoneration.

Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Chicago “is still owed an apology”.