Jussie Smollett’s Legal Team Slams ‘Smear Campaign’ by Chicago Police Department

Jussie Smollett‘s legal team is furious at the Chicago police department for releasing evidence in the case they consider one-sided, even though all charges have been dropped.

A statement was released Wednesday night by Smollett’s lawyer, Patricia Brown Holmes, which she says comes as a response to “the Chicago Police releasing one-sided evidence … and continuing their smear campaign against Jussie Smollett.”

“We are disappointed the local authorities have continued their campaign against Jussie Smollett after the charges against him have been dropped,” Holmes said. “The facts are clear. The Assistant State’s Attorney appeared in court and dismissed the charges. Mr. Smollett forfeited his bond. The case is closed. No public official has the right to violate Mr. Smollett’s due process rights.”

She continued, “Mr. Smollett, like every citizen, is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Mr. Smollett is entitled to the same Constitutional protections as any citizen charged by the government with a crime— including the right to speak freely about his innocence, the right to be viewed as innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and the right to hold the State to its burden of proving him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. None of that has occurred in this case.

Holmes concluded by saying, “We respectfully request all government agencies involved live up to the ethical tenants of their office, state and local law, Supreme Court Rules on Trial Publicity as well as the Rules of Professional Responsibility for lawyers and prosecutors. We will not try this case in a court of public opinion. There is no case to try. The case was dismissed. We should all allow Mr. Smollett to move on with his life as a free citizen.”

The press release also took a shot at the State’s Attorney’s Office, saying they have “flip-flopped” their position several times in the last 24 hours — first saying Smollett’s “volunteer service in the community” led to the charges being dropped, only for First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats to say the next day he believes Smollett is guilty.

As The Blast previously reported, Jussie Smollett was obviously pleased the charges against him were dropped on Tuesday but he was never worried about the case going trial because he was always “confident” he would emerge victorious.

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