Can Money Buy Freedom? It Appears So [EDITORIAL]

The recent decision by the Cook County District Attorney’s Office to not press charges against Jussie Smollett is wrong and should never have happened. The DA office themselves admitted they believe he’s guilty. And instead of dealing out justice, they claimed his case isn’t worth prosecuting and they’d rather focus on more “serious” issues.

What Smollett is accused of is certainly a serious issue.

The Empire TV series star stood accused of wasting police resources and falsely claiming he was the victim of a hate crime. Police said he hired two men to wear “Make America Great Again” hats and beat him up in the name of racism.

 Detectives later uncovered that the two men he hired were caught buying their gear on tape and paid by Smollett in check! The memo line of the check might as well say “for staging hate crime attack.”

There is even evidence of the man attempting something similar in the past. He is known to have sent himself hate mail to convince the producers of Empire that he deserved a pay raise, somehow.

“I think this city is still owed an apology,” said Eddie T. Johnson, superintended of the Chicago Police. “They chose to hide behind secrecy and broker a deal to circumvent the judicial system.”

Jussie Smollett committed a crime. When people commit crimes. They’re supposed to go to jail, pure and simple. He doesn’t get a free ride because the District Attorney’s Office was swayed by his lawyers into dropping the charges in exchange for a couple hours of community service.

He wouldn’t have gotten off so easy if it wasn’t for his celebrity. People accused of other nonviolent crimes go to jail all the time. The excuse the DA gave for dropping charges is weak at best.

The DA be the organization which ultimately decides who is and who isn’t charged with a crime. But they shouldn’t use this power as a tool to dish out on some over others. They should take into consideration the police’s recommendation and the mood of the citizens they represent over the crime.

Chicago and, more broadly, the nation as a whole were up in arms over what Smollett was accused of doing. They felt sympathetic towards his cause before the ruse was revealed. People used this to argue for legislation and changes in government. When it turned out to be a lie that broke many people’s hearts.

What does this action say for those who are victims of real hate crimes? What Smollett is accused of doing will cast doubt over every new victim of such terrible acts. They might even fear coming forward over the doubt people might bestow on them. What he did should be answered for.

 The people of the city and the nation deserve to hear all the facts and have this case closed. The Cook County DA did no such thing. They left this case wide open for anybody to interpret whatever they wish. Not only that, but a man who law enforcement is convinced committed a crime gets to walk free, without a trial.