By CCN.com: In yet another shocking twist to the Chicago hate crime scandal, President Trump has asked the Justice Department and the FBI to review the recent criminal case of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.
FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019
Trump announced on Twitter that he was alarmed by the prosecution’s decision to drop all charges against Smollett after the self-described victim agreed to part with a $10,000 bond and perform community service. Trump referred to the case as “an embarrassment to our nation.”
Jussie Smollett was indicted three weeks ago for reportedly filing a phony police report and staging a false attack that made him appear like the victim of a race-driven hate crime. While prosecutors have dropped the charges against the actor, they say Smollett is not fully “exonerated of wrongdoing.”
Jussie Smollett Wrist Slap Triggers Outrage
Donald Trump said the Jussie Smollett scandal was an “embarrassment” to the United States. | Source: REUTERS/Leah Millis
Many were outraged over the news. Among them were Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. Emanuel commented that the lack of punishment for Smollett was a “whitewash of justice,” stating:
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 estimated that the investigation will cost taxpayers in the Chicago area roughly $150,000.
Many of Trump’s critics are bashing the president for his decision to pursue Smollett’s case. Former adviser to President Barack Obama David Axelrod commented on Twitter:
By claiming a false attack, Smollett tried to exploit the hate @realDonaldTrump has stirred. Now, predictable, Trump is moving to exploit Smollett’s exploitation. Talk about a vicious circle.
Donald Trump Vows to Bring Justice to Victims of Jussie Smollett Scandal
Still, the details of the case’s final moments remain too suspicious to ignore. For one thing, prosecutors are saying that the results were an agreement between Smollett and court officials, though the actor’s legal team denies this.
.@JussieSmollett – what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019
When a person facing trial is forced to part with money and engage in community service hours, it seems like there’s more than meets the eye. Considering the charges were later dropped, this sure has the look and sound of an agreement – regardless of what Smollett’s team claims.
Second, prosecutors say that Smollett’s record has still not been expunged. His legal team is pushing for this, but if Smollett is innocent like he claims, why has the crime not been completely removed?
Smollett’s lawyers are now asking that his case be sealed. First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats, one of the actor’s prosecutors, claimed that while he feels dropping the charges against Smollett was the best choice, he does “not believe he’s innocent.”
Chicago police detectives did an excellent investigation and their work was reaffirmed by an independent grand jury who brought 16 criminal counts. In our experience, innocent individuals don’t forget bond & perform community service in exchange for dropped charges. https://t.co/P9rsvUMwwZ
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) March 26, 2019
Perhaps the biggest brick on the head comes in the form of Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx. Foxx initially separated herself from the Smollett investigation after it was discovered that she was communicating regularly with the actor’s family.
She is also one of several Chicago prosecutors to have allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars in election funds from liberal billionaire George Soros.
Either way, it appears Smollett isn’t quite off the hook yet.