Mayor and police superintendent accused of hypocrisy in Smollett case

Mr. Emanuel, who never came clean in the Laquan McDonald case, went on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” saying Mr. Smollett lied about the attack and criticized Ms. Foxx. He also questioned why Mr. Smollett’s court file was sealed and off limits to the public.

“This is without a doubt, a whitewash of justice, and sends a clear message that if you’re in a position of influence and power, you’ll get treated one way, [while] other people will be treated another way. There’s no accountability in the system. It is wrong-full stop,” said the mayor in response to the announcement that there would be no prosecution.

Ms. Foxx, in a media interview, stressed the disposition of the case was in line with standard procedures and said sealing the entire case was a mistake by the City Clerk’s Office. She also said going to trial doesn’t guarantee a conviction. Mayor Emanuel and Chief Johnson were not informed of the decision before Mr. Smollett walked out of the courthouse a free man amid a throng of supporters and journalists.

While Mayor Emanuel lashed out at the decision, Supt. Johnson has stuck to his demands that Mr. Smollett apologize to the city after he was indicted for staging an attack with two Black men in Streeterville. Mr. Smollett initially drew support from colleagues and residents. That support weakened when police accused the actor of staging the attack in light of evidence.

With little to no protests about the dropped charges against Mr. Smollett, Chicago’s Blacks accused the mayor and police chief of exaggerating the level of anger among city residents.

In light of the city’s racial problems, Blacks remained insulted about how much passion both leaders have shown in bringing Mr. Smollett to justice as the city’s clearance rate in solving murders remained under 20 percent.

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