Amid the historic election of Lori Lightfoot, the Windy City was preoccupied with the fallout stemming from the Jussie Smollett case.
The beleaguered Empire actor alleged he was a victim of a racist and homophobic assault in late January. However, as more details surrounding the case were released, it began to appear as if the attack was staged. Smollett was charged with 16 counts for lying to authorities, but Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx dropped all charges in late March.
According to ABC 7 News, Lightfoot does not see the case as a significant issue, while outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel continues to demand Smollett face justice. Emanuel called Foxx's decision to drop charges a "whitewash of justice." CBS News reports the 36-year-old actor was ordered to pay the city $130,000 for expenses related to the investigation into the alleged attack.
“I’m not going to comment on any pending litigation. Obviously, this was a decision that was made by the current mayor, Rahm Emanuel,” Lightfoot said in an April 12 statement via ABC 7 Chicago. “We’ve got a lot of things on our plate, a lot of pressing issues that are truly affecting people’s lives. This doesn’t rank as a matter of any importance to me.”
She declined to tell the press how her administration would address the case. The news comes at a time activists in Chicago are questioning Lightfoot's background and ability to protect vulnerable groups in the city. She will officially take office on May 20.
According to ABC 7, Foxx opened a review into how her office dealt with the Smollett case, and Inspector General Patrick Blanchard will reportedly oversee the review.
Foxx also appears to be moving on. According to WGN-TV and the Chicago Sun-Times, her office is working on wiping the records clean of those convicted for marijuana-related offenses.
The nonprofit Code for America has reportedly been recruited by her office to help expunge thousands of offenders’ records. Code for America rose to prominence for assisting San Francisco District Attorney’s office to dismiss 8,132 convictions dating back to 1975.
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