Jussie is just like Trump. His account was totally verified. He was vindicated. Never in history has someone been so worthy of being exonerated. He was clearly the subject of a right-wing witch hunt.
Chicago, as measured by population is somewhat smaller than Los Angeles, CA and NYC, NY. Square miles, Chicago is significantly smaller. Violent crime per capita is not as bad as some other cities but since people are stacked on top of each other in Chicago, the violent crimes feel very intimidating. Prosecutors have to keep the system moving. Prosecutors have to be aware of their time and budget. It is easy for cops to encourage prosecutors to go forward. Prosecutors put their reputations on the line. It makes sense that the charges were dropped in this case. I have seen many non-violent cases dropped in Chicago when defendant has a clean record. Do people want Cook County to prosecute murders or nonsense cases? Cook County Prosecutors cannot allow themselves to get tied up prosecuting nonsense cases.
A spokesman for the City says, "Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019. The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Once it is filed, the Law Department will send a courtesy copy of the complaint to Mr. Smollett's L.A. based legal team."
https://www.tmz.com/2019/04/04/jussie-smollett-city-of-chicago-lawsuit-sue-attack/
Among the risks for the city is that the civil litigation could end up costing far more in legal bills than it could ever hope to get from Smollett. In any lawsuit, there’s always the possibility that a judge throws it out before it ever gets to trial. Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, who will be sworn in as Chicago’s mayor on May 20, could reverse any legal action Emanuel’s law office takes against Smollett in coming weeks. Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor, said during a pre-election debate that “the public has to have answers as to why these charges were dismissed.” But she hasn’t detailed any action she might take as mayor regarding Smollett.
The Smollett case and the city’s effort to make him pay are both highly unusual, according to several legal experts.
One with some similarities is the case of a University of Iowa physician, Gary Hunninghake, who reported that he was attacked and stabbed while jogging in Chicago in 2010. After contradictions in his account, he eventually conceded he’d stabbed himself. A year later, he was ordered to pay more than $15,000 to reimburse the city for costs of the investigation.
Jussie Smollett's lawyer says the actor will not be intimidated by the City of Chicago's latest move -- to recover $130k in investigative costs -- hinting he might sue the City for defamation.
Jussie's lawyer, Mark Geragos, fired off an angry letter to the city, saying Jussie "will not be intimated," calling the claim his client faked the "attack" "false and defamatory."
As we reported, the City is preparing a civil lawsuit to recover the $130k it spent in investigating Jussie's claim that he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack. The lawsuit is significant, because it effectively puts Jussie on trial and the standard of proof is much lower than a criminal case.
Geragos says the attack was real, and points to the Osundairo brothers as the culprits. And, Geragos is quick to point out, the State's Attorney dropped all 16 felony charges against his client.
He then threatens that he will grill Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson like cheeseburgers in depositions if the City goes through with the lawsuit. Both men were extremely critical of State's Attorney Kim Foxx for dropping the charges, saying Jussie did indeed fake the attack.
Geragos also says the City NEVER goes after individuals under these circumstances, threatening to mount a constitutional attack if the case goes forward.
https://www.tmz.com/2019/04/05/jussie-smollett-chicago-lawsuit-lawyer-mark-geragos/Will Chicago PD maintain this intensity the next time one of their own shoots an unarmed black male in the back?
To: State’s Attorney Foxx, (dated 1st April 2019) The North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police represents Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs from more than thirty North Suburban Cook County Police Departments. This membership has tasked me, as President, to express the deep concerns we have regarding your leadership of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, specifically in the areas of felony review, non-prosecution of certain low-level offenses, and the handling of the recent Jussie Smollett matter. Since your election in November 2016, our membership, along with the memberships of the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police and West Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police, has sought to work collaboratively with you and your staff on issues pertaining to the felony review process. Our shared goal is the safety and well-being of all the citizens residing in our communities.
However, during your tenure, the centralized felony review process has remained problematic. Police personnel receive contradictory guidance from different Assistant State’s Attorneys. When the Felony Review attorneys change shifts, officers waste countless hours reviewing the same evidentiary facts of cases with the incoming attorneys. For suburban departments, the geographic removal of your felony review staff and lack of responsiveness to many questions strains our local resources, adding additional time to the investigatory process and overtime expenses to our communities. Moreover, our officers must explain your decisions not to prosecute to our local victims. These problems are particularly frustrating in light of the numerous meetings between Police and State’s Attorney leadership staff. These meetings have had little tangible results.
In addition, you have unilaterally decided not to prosecute retail thefts under $1000 (or offenders with ten prior convictions) despite the legislature’s criminalization of thefts under $1000. Similarly, you most recently have decided not to prosecute marijuana cases, despite its current illegality. These decisions add to the continuing resource burden on police agencies. We continue, as we are required, to investigate and make arrests for these offenses for which accountability and deterrence are greatly diminished. Your office repeatedly suggests charging these crimes under local ordinance violations. yet, non-criminal local ordinance violations have insufficient penalties to force compliance and do nothing to address multiple offenses in different municipalities. You and your staff argue that these are insignificant non-violent crimes, however the connection of both crimes in supporting larger criminal drug enterprises, often controlled by street gangs, means that many people will continue to be victimized, either directly due to losses from these crimes or in struggles, often violent, to control the larger criminal enterprises.
The abrupt dropping of the 16 indictments against actor Jussie Smollett during an unannounced court hearing on March 26, 2019 is the latest and most egregious example of the failure by you and your staff to hold offenders accountable. The Chicago Police Department worked in excess of 1,700 hours investigating the false claim of a hate crime. They diverted significant resources, and a substantial portion of a limited overtime budget to build this case with your staff. To have the charges dismissed with no explanation and a sealed court file shows a lack of respect for the professionals you work with.
As executives charged with managing police operations that safeguard our communities, we cannot ignore the choices you have made as Cook County State’s Attorney and the impact it is having on our ability to reduce and deter criminal activities. It appears your strategy to address non-violent crime in Cook County is to decriminalize or ignore it, regardless of any collateral cost which is born overwhelmingly by individual communities and their police agencies. The fact that you and your staff have made these decisions without consultation with our departments undermines any statements you have made that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office is working with us to maintain safe, crime free communities.
It is because of our solemn responsibility that the Police Executives in our organization have considered and passed a vote of no confidence in your performance of your duties as Cook County State’s Attorney.
Respectfully, Duane Mellema, President, North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police
I'd vote for negative confidence personally wrote:
To: State’s Attorney Foxx, (dated 1st April 2019)
The North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police represents Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs from more than thirty North Suburban Cook County Police Departments. This membership has tasked me, as President, to express the deep concerns we have regarding your leadership of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, specifically in the areas of felony review, non-prosecution of certain low-level offenses, and the handling of the recent Jussie Smollett matter.
Since your election in November 2016, our membership, along with the memberships of the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police and West Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police, has sought to work collaboratively with you and your staff on issues pertaining to the felony review process. Our shared goal is the safety and well-being of all the citizens residing in our communities.
However, during your tenure, the centralized felony review process has remained problematic. Police personnel receive contradictory guidance from different Assistant State’s Attorneys. When the Felony Review attorneys change shifts, officers waste countless hours reviewing the same evidentiary facts of cases with the incoming attorneys. For suburban departments, the geographic removal of your felony review staff and lack of responsiveness to many questions strains our local resources, adding additional time to the investigatory process and overtime expenses to our communities. Moreover, our officers must explain your decisions not to prosecute to our local victims. These problems are particularly frustrating in light of the numerous meetings between Police and State’s Attorney leadership staff. These meetings have had little tangible results.
In addition, you have unilaterally decided not to prosecute retail thefts under $1000 (or offenders with ten prior convictions) despite the legislature’s criminalization of thefts under $1000. Similarly, you most recently have decided not to prosecute marijuana cases, despite its current illegality. These decisions add to the continuing resource burden on police agencies. We continue, as we are required, to investigate and make arrests for these offenses for which accountability and deterrence are greatly diminished. Your office repeatedly suggests charging these crimes under local ordinance violations. yet, non-criminal local ordinance violations have insufficient penalties to force compliance and do nothing to address multiple offenses in different municipalities. You and your staff argue that these are insignificant non-violent crimes, however the connection of both crimes in supporting larger criminal drug enterprises, often controlled by street gangs, means that many people will continue to be victimized, either directly due to losses from these crimes or in struggles, often violent, to control the larger criminal enterprises.
The abrupt dropping of the 16 indictments against actor Jussie Smollett during an unannounced court hearing on March 26, 2019 is the latest and most egregious example of the failure by you and your staff to hold offenders accountable. The Chicago Police Department worked in excess of 1,700 hours investigating the false claim of a hate crime. They diverted significant resources, and a substantial portion of a limited overtime budget to build this case with your staff. To have the charges dismissed with no explanation and a sealed court file shows a lack of respect for the professionals you work with.
As executives charged with managing police operations that safeguard our communities, we cannot ignore the choices you have made as Cook County State’s Attorney and the impact it is having on our ability to reduce and deter criminal activities. It appears your strategy to address non-violent crime in Cook County is to decriminalize or ignore it, regardless of any collateral cost which is born overwhelmingly by individual communities and their police agencies. The fact that you and your staff have made these decisions without consultation with our departments undermines any statements you have made that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office is working with us to maintain safe, crime free communities.
It is because of our solemn responsibility that the Police Executives in our organization have considered and passed a vote of no confidence in your performance of your duties as Cook County State’s Attorney.
Respectfully, Duane Mellema, President, North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police
I see what is happening here. Chicagoland Cops are flooding letsrun.
I have been a victim of property crimes over a 1/2 dozen times in Chicago. I reported all crimes to Chicago PD. I was told by Chicago PD due to so many serious crimes, that Chicago PD did not have time for me. Move on Chicagoland cops. There are unsolved murders in the city. Move on!
You Chicagoland cops making a big deal about Smollett will not make people forgot about all the unsolved murders in the city.
Jussie Smollett was a man of no words as he left an office building Friday in the San Fernando Valley.
Jussie was leaving the Warner Center in Woodland Hills in the PM when he was asked about the civil lawsuit the City of Chicago intends to file against him to recover the $130k cost of investigating the alleged attack.
Jussie's in a box on this one ... he has been so strong proclaiming his innocence, settling with the City for ANY amount would be off script, despite the fact a settlement is often made to minimize the enormous costs of trial.
If Jussie goes for it in a trial, he risks a judge proclaiming he faked the attack ... something that could be devastating to his career.
This statute does not apply to cases like Mr. Smollet, as Mr. Geragos' letter points out. It is intended for those doing business with the city. The city will not be collecting anything from him.
The city dropped the charges without any acknowledgement of guilt and prior to having to turn over any evidence to the defense. They probably dropped them at that point because in addition to not being able to meet the burden, the files also contained evidence of police misconduct.
Jussie Smollett is trying to return to normalcy as best he can after a whirlwind saga in Chicago ... and that includes mundane tasks like taking trips to the post office.
We got photos of Jussie hitting up a post office in Van Nuys this week ... and you can see just how average his life is becoming.
Folks who were there tell us Jussie was determined to keep a low profile ... he had a woman stand in the passport line for him for over an hour, saving his spot before it was his turn at the counter. Then it was time to sit down with a postal employee.
https://www.tmz.com/2019/04/07/jussie-smollett-post-office-running-errands-normal-life/
Amazing that Geragos thinks that just because the False Statements ordinance was included in the law-making of the False Claims Act that the purpose of the latter transcends all other considerations.
This guy is a lawyer?
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx defended her office's decision to drop 17 charges against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett and, alongside familiar Chicago community activists like Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), lashed out at her critics, at one point even suggesting her critics were "racist" and colluding with "white supremacists."
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/chicago-prosecutor-kim-foxx-defends-jussie-smollett-decision
