Nearly two months after Jussie Smollett was attacked in alleged hate crime and one month after he was charged for filing a false report in the case, prosecutors have reportedly dropped all charges against the actor.
“Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped, and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him,” his attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said in a statement.
The actor appeared in a Chicago courthouse on Tuesday for an emergency hearing, where he heard the decision. However, according to TMZ, the State’s Attorney told Chicago police that she only dropped the case because the actor would have only gotten community service, if convicted, and since he had already done work in the community, there was no point to push for further prosecution.
So, instead, Smollett will just turn over his $10,000 bond and move on.
“After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case,” the State Attorney’s office said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Smollett and his legal team are maintaining that Smollett is a victim in the incident.
“He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of a false and inappropriate remarks made to the public, causing an inappropriate rush to judgment,” his attorneys said. “This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case, Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim, in this case, was the only just result.”
“Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends, and career,” the statement said.
