Charges against ” Empire” star Jussie Smollett were dropped in a stunning account from the Cook County State Attorney’s office.
It was announced that all 16 felony counts against Smollett, 36, were dropped in a nolle pros and the record in the case was sealed. Smollett voluntarily forfeited his bond money. Smollett’s attorney, Patricia Brown-Holmes, said the funds would likely go to the city of Chicago.
The charges had come after Smollett allegedly staged his own hate crime.
Justice could soon catch up with Smollett after all because today a Cook County, Illinois judge has ruled that a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the alleged hate crime hoax case involving actor Jussie Smollett, which would allow charges to be reinstated against Smollett.
The judge said in his order, “If reasonable grounds exist to further prosecute Smollett, in the interest of justice the special prosecutor may take such action.”
This is a stunning turn of events … as you know, the Office of State’s Attorney Kim Foxx essentially dropped all charges against Jussie … this after the grand jury indicted the actor on 16 felony counts of lying to cops. Jussie claimed he was attacked by 2 men who beat him and put a rope around his neck while yelling racial and homophobic slurs. Cops called BS.
“Smollett’s case in many ways was truly unique,” Judge Michael Toomin said, according to reporter Megan Crepeau. “A case that purported to have been brought and supervised by a prosecutor authorized to serve in the stead of the duly elected state’s attorney but in fact who was appointed to a fictitious office.”
"Smollett’s case in many ways was truly unique … a case that purported to have been brought and supervised by a prosecutor authorized to serve in the stead of the duly elected state’s attorney but in fact who was appointed to a fictitious office."
— Megan Crepeau (@crepeau) June 21, 2019
Crepeau added: “The special prosecutor may further prosecute Smollett, and if they have ‘reasonable grounds to believe that any other criminal offense was committed … special prosecutor may commence the prosecution of any crime as may be suspected.'”
The special prosecutor may further prosecute Smollett, and if they have "reasonable grounds to believe that any other criminal offense was committed … special prosecutor may commence the prosecution of any crime as may be suspected," Toomin says
— Megan Crepeau (@crepeau) June 21, 2019
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