Jessie Jackson has applauded the decision of Chicago prosecutors to drop charges against TV star Jussie Smollett, calling the move “consistent with justice and mercy.”
He said: “The outrage over the Jussie Smollett case is misplaced and out of proportion. It is being used from City Hall to the White House to deflect and distract from City Hall to the White House. It is fake news. The voices that are crying out the loudest seem to have only recently found their sense of righteous indignation.”
The black, gay actor claimed he was the victim of a hate crime in January where two men attacked him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs, an attack authorities later said was staged. Police had initially announced 16 charges against Smollett, which were later dropped in a surprise move by prosecutors.
Jackson compared Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s recusal from the case to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recusing himself from the Russia collusion investigation into President Trump and his campaign associates by the Department of Justice, in a statement Friday.
“When the state’s attorney recused herself, she left the matter in the capable hands of her first assistant, Joseph Magats, and his prosecutorial discretion. It was his decision — and within his purview — to dismiss the charges. It was the correct call, consistent with justice and mercy,” Jackson said.
“Showing integrity and leadership, former U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions also did the right thing when he recused himself from the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign. He handed the investigation over to his top deputy and made no additional decisions in the matter. For being honorable and following the law, President Trump eventually fired him. That was a disgrace,” he said.
Jackson, who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1984 and 1988, shared his outrage that the former Obama chief of staff and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel would focus on the Smollett case when Chicago faces rampant crime and police brutality, particularly against people of color.
He urged the city and its leaders to move on from Smollett so that political opponents don’t use the case to further divide the country.
