Rahm Emanuel continues criticism, calls Smollett decision an ‘abomination’
By Ben Feuerherd
Page Six
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel called the prosecutors’ decision to drop charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollet an “abomination” on Tuesday night.
Emanuel spoke to CNN hours after prosecutors dropped charges on Smollett after he allegedly lied about a hate assault in the Windy City.
“It makes no sense,” Emanuel told CNN host Wolf Blitzer.
“It makes no legal sense. It makes no common sense. And this is an abomination of my sense of justice.”
Smollett, who is black and gay, claimed in January that he was jumped by two men who yelled racist and homophobic slurs, as well as “This is MAGA country!” at him during the attack.
Chicago mayor on Jussie Smollett’s
dropped charges: ‘Whitewash of
justice’
The “Empire” star, 36, claimed his assailants doused him with bleach, threw a noose around his neck and beat him.
During their investigation, Chicago police determined Smollett set up the attack and paid two brothers — who both acted in small roles on “Empire” — to carry out the supposed beating.
Before his appearance on Blitzer’s show, Emanuel spoke at a press conference with Chicago police officials and condemned the decision to let Smollet off.
“Is there no decency in this man?” Emanuel seethed at the press conference. “Mr. Smollett is still saying that he is innocent. … How dare he?”
Chicago’s top cop, Superintendent Eddie Johnson, was similarly irate.
“Do I think justice was served? No,” he said at the press conference.