Fury over Jussie Smollett’s ‘hoax’ racist attack as Empire star is let off with soft punishment in murky deal despite prosecutors saying he’s guilty
The Empire actor reportedly did two days of community service with a non-profit organisation in Chicago before prosecutors dropped all of the charges against him
FURY is mounting about the decision to clear Jussie Smollett over claims he faked a homophobic race attack - even though prosecutors admit he is probably guilty.
The Empire actor reportedly did just 16 HOURS of cosy community service with a non-profit organisation in Chicago before prosecutors dropped all of the charges against him.
Among those now pressing for answers is outraged Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who called the shocking deal a "whitewash of justice."
He said Smollett had exploited hate-crime laws meant to protect minorities by turning them “inside out, upside down for only one thing - himself.”
The star divided America when he was accused of faking a shocking race attack on the streets of Chicago in a bid to "further his career."
However, with little explanation the authorities abruptly dropped all charges against Smollett, abandoning the criminal case only five weeks after the allegations were first filed.
The dismissal raised questions about why Smollett was not forced to admit what prosecutors said they could prove in court — that the entire episode was a publicity stunt.
In return for the verdict, Smollett reportedly agreed to do the community work and forfeit the $10,000 he paid to get out of jail.
According to CBS reporter Charlie De Mar, Smollett did community service at Rainbow PUSH "Saturday/Monday for about 16 hours total".
"He worked in bookstores, sold merchandise. Stuffed envelopes. Spoke to students. Talked to musical director about expanding choir. Helped in video dept and offered critique," Mar tweeted.
The news comes after the prosecutor who dropped the charges against the Empire star has admitted even he does not believe he is innocent.
First Assistant State's Attorney Joe Magats revealed he made the extraordinary decision to drop the case because the actor has no criminal background.
He said he thought Smollett, 36, was guilty but that “based on the facts and circumstances of the case”, the decision was made not to pursue charges.
“I do not believe he is innocent,” Mr Magats told CBS on Tuesday afternoon.
The shocking 'race attack' that never was
Smollett, who is black and openly gay, told police he was attacked while walking home around 2am on January 29.
He claimed two masked men – one wearing a red MAGA-style hat – shouted racist and homophobic slurs as they beat him, put a noose around his neck, and poured bleach on him.
The star claimed they yelled: "This is MAGA country", a reference to Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' campaign slogan.
It was later claimed Smollett had directed the men — who were brothers — to buy the noose at a hardware store and the hat and masks at a store in Uptown Chicago.
Police said the pair wore gloves during the staged attack, and did punch Smollett, but the scratches and bruises on Smollett’s face were most likely self-inflicted.
Cops at the time said the attack was a publicity stunt because the actor was upset about his pay on the hit show.
The Chicago police union has now renewed its calls for federal probe into the "highly, highly suspicious" conduct of the prosecutor who intervened in the Smollett case on behalf of a former aide of Michelle Obama and texted the Empire star's family.
Cops in the city are furious about the shock decision to drop Smollett's charges and are demanding that Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx be investigated over her handling of the probe.
Foxx recused herself from the case last month for exchanging text messages with one of Smollett's relatives in the days after the actor told police he was attacked.
The union, Fraternal Order of Police, slammed Foxx's conduct as "highly suspicious" accusing her of political "interference" on behalf of the Smollett family.
"The entire country is outraged by it. The evidence is overwhelming that he was legitimately charged in this case. This decision appears to be utterly arbitrary, capricious and suspicious.
";The entire country is getting a window into the absurdity of the Chicago political and legal system."
Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a "phony" street attack and claiming he was the victim of a hate crime to garner sympathetic publicity.