In some cities, people might be shocked if the mayor called out the prosecutor for running a crooked system that allowed a
But this is
No.
Thanks to the office of
Smollett blamed the alleged attack on mythical Trump supporters. According to his story, he apparently fought them off with a tuna fish sandwich in one hand and his cellphone in the other, just like real
Or not.
But there's more to it. There's always more to it.
Foxx's office dropped the charges, yes. But also as part of the deal, her office wiped him clean. His record was expunged.
The stain of the 16 counts in the indictment was scrubbed right off him.
You might say Foxx bathed him in the waters of the
And now he's smirking at the city, the mayor, the cops, everyone. Can't wait until he files that multimillion-dollar lawsuit.
"Foxx expunged it all," said a top
"The case has been expunged. I can't even tell you if
Foxx isn't saying much. She hasn't said much at all since it was learned that she'd been contacted about Smollett by lawyer
Tchen reportedly wanted Foxx's help to lobby the
Foxx was out over her skis on that one, completely out of her depth. She was compromised and was compelled to recuse herself in the case.
Now that
Because Preckwinkle did more than merely help Foxx get elected. Preckwinkle is not only the president of the
But to be a true boss, Toni needed the prosecutor's office for real leverage. And
"I'm not a lawyer and I'm not the state's attorney," Preckwinkle said Tuesday when asked about Foxx's decision at a mayoral debate. "I think it's really important that the state's attorney be allowed to provide a fuller explanation as time goes on."
As time goes on?
Really? What about now, Toni? You elected her. She's your political creation. She's not your hand, but she is your muscle. And time's running out for talking, Toni.
After Foxx had to recuse herself from the case for playing Obama Celebrity Friends,
"The fact that (Smollett) feels we have exonerated him, we have not," Magats told the Tribune. "I can't make it any clearer."
You can't make it any clearer? Well, I can't make this any clearer.
Smollett is a star. Your boss jammed herself up some way we don't know about. But she jammed herself. And so, you cut him a deal.
You expunged him. You let him work off "community service" with a couple of days doing odd jobs at the
"This is without a doubt a whitewash of justice," Emanuel said.
Emanuel used "whitewash" about half a dozen times at his news conference. It was no accident.
"And it sends a clear message that if you're in a position of influence and power you'll get treated one way. Other people will be treated another way," Emanuel said. "There is no accountability in the system. It is wrong. Full stop."
It was a clear political indictment of a fellow Democrat who climbed up the ladder of identity politics.
He was asked: What about the politics of all this?
"To the state's attorney," he said, "the question about whether it was politically motivated or not is something you have to ask them, because only they can answer their motivation."
And only under oath.
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John Kass is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune who also hosts a radio show on WLS-AM.