FBI ‘Reviewing’ Sudden Dismissal of Jussie Smollett's Hoax Charges
Local authorities outraged following the dismissal of the 'Empire' actor's charges
© press
The FBI is examining the shock dismissal of 16 felony charges against Jussie Smollett for an alleged hate crime he staged himself in January, according to reports.
Local authorities are said to be outraged following the dismissal of the 'Empire' actor's charges.
But the agency opened a new probe into "circumstances surrounding dismissal of criminal charges" against Smollett after Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city's police demanded answers.
© press
But ABC Chicago specified that the FBI was doing a "review" or "inquiry" rather than a full-scale investigation.
Smollet has not only wasted thousands of hours of police time and money, but he also had charges dropped.
The actor forfeited his $10,000 bond and completed 16 hours of community service.
State's Attorney Kim Foxx is facing a massive backlash from the public for allowing Smollett to escape 16 felonies.
Former Cook County prosecutor Andrew Weisberg told Fox News that the speed in which Smollett's charges were dropped was unusual.
"It was such a quick turnaround. Pretrial diversions are usually a year long, and this happened so quickly," Weisberg said.
BREAKING: Two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter tell @ABC the FBI is *reviewing* circumstances surrounding dismissal of criminal charges against Jussie Smollett. ABC News is told this is not an investigation. It is a "review" or "inquiry".
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) March 27, 2019
"Breaking on #JussieSmollett case: @AJGuglielmi says @Chicago_Police now barred from releasing additional Smollett records b/c of new court order. This keeps getting more strange." -- @JoshMargolin pic.twitter.com/aSl7VL1gb0
— Nick Monroe (@nickmon1112) March 27, 2019
© press
Weisberg added he was baffled by the proceedings.
"I figured they had a plea agreement and I was shocked when I heard the dismissal," he admitted.
"I can't figure it out. I don't think it's anything corrupt or anything terrible — but it's an unusually great outcome for [Smollett]."
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was outraged following Smollett's charges being dropped.
According to sources from CBS, reporter Charlie De Mar claimed that Johnson is “furious.”
“He had no heads up this was going to happen,” De Mar said.
“I can tell you that Chicago Police are furious over State Attorney Kim Foxx’s decision to drop all charges against Jussie Smollett,” added Rafer Weigel of Fox Chicago.
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) reportedly have photographs of 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett driving in a car with the Osundairo brothers in the days leading up to the racist hoax attack.
The news comes to a CPD published their investigative files following a Freedom of Information Act request.CWB Chicago first released the files, then was reviewed by The Daily Caller.
“[One of the Osundairo brothers] was shown two large photographs of the vehicle which R/D believed was being driven by Smollett and which [an Osundairo brother] was a passenger in on 25-Jan-2019 and 27-Jan-2019. [An Osundairo brother] identified the photographs as the vehicle belonging to and driven by Smollett."
