Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says Jussie Smollett case is 'making a fool of all of us'
After a scathing press conference on Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is continuing to blast Jussie Smollett, saying the actor got off scot-free even though he "committed a crime" and "lied."
Emanuel spoke with Good Morning America on Wednesday a day after prosecutors dropped all of the charges against the Empire star, who police had said staged a fake hate crime against himself.
"This is actually making a fool of all of us," Emanuel said after pointing out that the first assistant state's attorney says he still believes Smollett is guilty, while Smollett maintains his innocence.
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Emanuel went on to say that Smollett "abused the city of Chicago" and turned its values "upside down and inside out," doubling down on his belief that Smollett is guilty and shaming him for "walking around with no sense of contrition, no sense of remorse."
Tina Glandian, one of Smollett's attorneys, also appeared on Good Morning America on Wednesday to say that she's "shocked" by the reaction of Emanuel and the Chicago police, insisting prosecutors dropped the case after realizing it "does not hold up."
Pressed on First Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Joseph Magats' statement that he still believes Smollett is guilty and that he has not been exonerated, Glandian was skeptical, saying, "If they believed the charges, they would have never dismissed the case." Brendan Morrow
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
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