Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel delivered an impassioned response after charges were dropped against former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett. Tuesday afternoon, Rahm shared his disagreement with the result of the turbulent case during a news conference with Chicago PD Superintendent Eddie Johnson.

"I would like to remind everybody, a grand jury indicted this individual [Smollett], based on only a piece of the evidence that the police had collected in that period of time," Emanuel said. "Financial costs, this $10,000 doesn't even come close to what the city spent in resources to actually look over the camera, gather all of the data, gather all the information that actually brought the indictment by the grand jury."

Emanuel also mentioned the ethical costs, as he says Smollett used the Matthew Shepherd legislation, signed by Barack Obama into law, used for victims of hate crimes. Emanuel says Smollett used this law in the name of "self-promotion," and that it cast a shadow over the law, and raises "doubt" over future victims of hate crimes.

"This is a whitewash of justice. The grand jury could not have been clearer … Where is the accountability in the system? You cannot have, because of a person's position, one set of rules apply to them and another set of rules apply to everybody else," Emanuel said.

On that note, Emanuel referenced the USC scandal where celebrities allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to have their children enrolled. 

Cook County State Attorney’s office spoke with the Chicago Tribune Tuesday in regards to their decision with Smollett. The publication explains the agreement was reached for Smollet to volunteer for community service, and forfeit his $100,000 bond to the City of Chicago. 

First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats handled the case after State’s Attorney Kim Foxx stepped down due to conflict of interest. Magats told the Chicago Tribune their resolution with Smollett would be a “just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case."

Twitter users referred to Emanuel's statement as hypocritical. In 2016, in regards to the Laquan McDonald case, Emanuel's office reportedly released emails following an open records request, In These Times reported. Though the publication notes Emanuel was "largely absent" in the documents, he reportedly was aware of the incident. 

"The emails show the Emanuel administration began discussing the case within two months of the October 2014 shooting, seemingly aware that it could become a political flashpoint," the publication wrote.

Despite this, Emanuel appeared inflamed after the charges were dropped and even referred jokingly to his lengthy statements as a "sermon." 

Now check these out:

All Charges Against Jussie Smollett Dropped, Lawyer Says His Record Has Been 'Wiped Clean'

Chicago Mayoral Candidate Lori Lightfoot And Her Partner Are Being Targeted By Anti-Gay Flyers

Jussie Smollett Speaks Out Following Dismissal Of Charges Against Him

Chicago Police DeptartmentChicago Police Eddie Johnsonjussie smolletMayor Rahm Emanuel