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In a statement, Smollett's attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said, "Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him. 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 and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.

"Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions. This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.

"Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career."

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Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said in a statement, ""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 to this case."

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What a bizarre case.

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The actor has reached a deferred prosecution deal with prosecutors that wipes out the charges against him. The $10,000 posted for Smollett’s bond will be turned over to the City of Chicago Law Department. “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 to this case,” the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said in statement.

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I'm just speculating, but it could be that the reason for the dismissal was an improper search or other impropriety on the part of the police.

That would mean the evidence would be suppressed, and that might mean they couldn't convict. Rather than press a case they know they would lose, they offered Jussie the chance to walk now with a bail forfeiture. Which he would be insane not to take.

They want the file sealed so their blunder won't be discovered. Jussie wants the file sealed so no one knows what the evidence was, and the cops want it sealed so they don't look bad for botching the investigation.

That's my guess.

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Originally posted by piqué:
So if the charges were true, what was the motive?

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Originally posted by Bernard:
One thing's for sure, for someone so thoroughly tried in the court of public opinion, he deserves this clearing. Shame on the Chicago police for thinking it was in their power to try him. Shame on them for the constant leaks.

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Just days after Jussie Smollett told Chicago police he had fought off a pair of attackers who targeted him in an apparent hate crime, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx tried to persuade Police Supt. Eddie Johnson to turn the investigation over to the FBI.

Foxx’s call to Johnson came after an influential supporter of the “Empire” actor reached out to Foxx personally: Tina Tchen, a Chicago attorney and former chief of staff for former First Lady Michelle Obama, according to emails and text messages provided by Foxx to the Chicago Sun-Times in response to a public records request.

Tchen passed Foxx’s number to a relative of the actor, and the ensuing conversations with the family member were cited by Foxx last month as the reason she recused herself from Smollett’s prosecution as the actor faces disorderly conduct charges for allegedly making a false police report.

quote:

Prosecutors dropped all charges Tuesday against “Empire” star Jussie Smollett, just weeks after he was indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report about being the victim of an alleged hate crime attack.

At a press conference later, outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters they were outraged at the decision. They continued to accuse Smollett of lying about being attacked as a means to raise his profile and TV salary.

"This is a whitewash of justice," Emanuel declared. "It’s Mr. Smollett who committed this hoax. He’s still saying he's innocent, still running down the Chicago Police Department. How dare he? How dare he?

“It is wrong. Full stop,” Emanuel said. "From top to bottom, this is not on the level."

Backed and flanked by a row of uniformed senior police officers after a police academy graduation, neither the mayor nor the police chief could explain why prosecutors dropped the charges.

Johnson said prosecutors and Smollett are "hiding behind (court) secrecy to broker a deal to circumvent the judicial system," and he continued to "stand behind my detectives."

“At the end of the day, Mr. Smollett committed this hoax,” Johnson said. "Do I think justice was served? No. What do I think justice is? I think this city is still owed an apology."