The Chicago Police Department released its file on the investigation into the alleged hate crime against Jussie Smollett on Tuesday, one day after all charges facing the “Empire” actor were dropped.
Police released the information in response to a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by CWBChicago. Chicago police’s FOIA office has been inundated with similar requests for weeks.
“These files were provided by the Chicago Police Department in response to a FOIA request that CWBChicago submitted upon learning that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office had reached a sealed agreement to resolve Smollett’s criminal exposure in the case … Our requests for video, including bodycam, surveillance, and interrogation, was denied,” CWBChicago said on its website.
After the actor sent himself a threatening letter, Smollett told police in January that he had been assaulted, filing a police report that alleged he was attacked by two masked men who made racist and anti-gay comments, put a rope around his neck, and threw bleach on him. Police concluded that Smollett had misled investigators, staging the attack himself and then filing a false report with the police. He had been indicted on 16 felony charges.
“Jussie Smollett made false reports claiming to be the victim of an aggravated battery … The report is being RE-CLASSIFIED from an Aggravated Battery… to a Public Peace / Other Violation… Investigation revealed that a plan was formulated and put into play by Smollett to conduct a staged incident where Smollett was beaten by [redacted] and [redacted] posing as persons other than themselves,” Detective Michael Vogenthaler said in the report.
In a shocking move Tuesday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office dropped all charges against Smollett.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was furious. “This is a whitewash of justice and sends a clear message that if you’re in a position of influence and power you’ll be treated one way, other people will be treated another way. There is no accountability then in the system. It is wrong. Full stop,” he said in a press conference.
Also in attendance was Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who expressed the anger felt by many police. “Do I think justice was served? No. What do I think justice is? I think this city is still owed an apology,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police is calling for an investigation into Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who recused herself from the case in mid-February.
At least 20 murders and 134 sexual assaults were reported in Chicago during the 23-day period when Chicago police investigated Smollett’s claims, according to the Chicago Police Department’s weekly CompStat crime statistics.
“Bogus police reports cause real harm,” Johnson said last month. “They do harm to every legitimate victim who is in need of support by police and investigators as well as the citizens of this city.”
