Jussie Smollett's lawyer threatens to depose Rahm Emanuel if Chicago lawsuit goes forward
Jussie Smollett's lawyer is pushing back as Chicago prepares a civil lawsuit, saying he will demand Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others be deposed if it goes forward.
After the Empire star did not meet the city's demand that he pay $130,000 in reimbursement for their investigation, Chicago's Law Department on Thursday said it is preparing a lawsuit against him. Smollett had said in January he was the victim of a hate crime, but police subsequently concluded that Smollett staged the attack himself. All charges against Smollett were later dropped, however, and he has continued to maintain his innocence.
In a letter, Smollett's attorney Mark Geragos says the city of Chicago is attempting to "harass and irreparably injure" him, saying he will "not be intimidated" into paying for the investigation, per The Chicago Tribune. Geragos called the lawsuit threat "unprecedented" and "unconstitutional" and accused the city of making it "maliciously and in bad faith." Should the lawsuit go forward, Geragos also said he will demand deposition from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, and the two brothers who police said Smollett paid to orchestrate the attack.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Emanuel and Johnson have both blasted prosecutors' decision to drop charges against Smollett, with Emanuel calling it a "whitewash of justice" and repeatedly saying in interviews that Smollett is guilty of orchestrating the attack. First Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Joseph Magats has said he still believes the actor is guilty. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx defended the decision to drop the charges in a Chicago Tribune op-ed, saying "specific aspects of the evidence and testimony" would have "made securing a convention" uncertain but that his "alleged unstable actions have probably caused him more harm than any court-ordered penance could."
Fox has not yet commented on Smollett's future on Empire, although star Taraji P. Henson on Thursday suggested he will return to the show.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Christmas gifts for children: the top toys of the year
The Week Recommends The most sought-after kids' presents revealed
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Should Line of Duty return?
Talking Point Adrian Dunbar's hint about a series reboot has some critics worried
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
One great cookbook: 'The Zuni Café Cookbook' by Judy Rodgers
The Week Recommends A tome that teaches you to both recreate recipes and think like a cook
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba have a rough day in defamation court
Speed Read Trump's audible grousing as E. Jean Carroll testified earned him a warning he could be thrown out of court, and Habba showed she 'doesn't know what the hell she's doing'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published