Jussie Smollett charges dropped, actor won't be prosecuted on charges he faked attack

Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty to 16 counts of disorderly conduct stemming from alleged hate crime hoax

'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty in a Chicago courtroom Thursday to 16 charges stemming from an alleged hate crime hoax.

In a shocking announcement Tuesday morning, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said it will not be prosecuting Jussie Smollett, who was previously accused of faking an anti-black, anti-gay hate crime in Chicago in order to drum up publicity for his role on the TV drama “Empire.”

Fox News has learned the judge granted a nolle pros, which essentially means that the case has been dropped and that he will no longer be prosecuted for the alleged crime.

It’s unclear at this time why the court decided not to proceed with prosecution, but the former “Empire” star is expected to give a statement after he leaves the courthouse later today.

Smollett previously pled "not guilty" to 16 counts of disorderly conduct stemming from the alleged incident in which he claimed two men beat him, poured bleach on him and placed a rope around his neck before yelling, "This is MAGA country." His lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the plea on Smollett’s behalf just hours after Judge Steven Watkins was assigned the case. The next court date was scheduled for April 17.
"Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, center, when he arrived at Leighton Criminal Court Building on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in Chicago.(AP Photo/Matt Marton)

"Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, center, when he arrived at Leighton Criminal Court Building on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in Chicago.(AP Photo/Matt Marton)
However, Smollett was brought in for an emergency court session in which the judge ruled the case against him would be dropped.

Doubt was cast on the open-and-shut nature of the case when Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Graham wrote the Justice Department following reports that Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx asked Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to let the FBI investigate Smollett's allegations that he was attacked by two masked men after the former chief of staff to former first lady Michelle Obama allegedly informed Foxx that Smollett's family had concerns about the probe.

Smollett attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said in a statement that Smollett's record "has been wiped clean."

A rep for Fox, which produces and airs "Empire," said the studio and network had no immediate comment.

A spokeswoman for Cook County prosecutors didn't immediately respond to messages requesting comment.

source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/03/jussie-smollett-charges-dropped-actor.html

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