![Feb 12, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; [CAPTION] during the second half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo-USA TODAY Sports](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/GettyImages-1131246425.jpg?w=804)
The administration of outgoing Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel is suing actor Jussie Smollett for the costs associated with police officers’ overtime work to investigate his alleged attack, despite the fact that prosecutors abruptly dropped all charges against Smollett last month.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the lawsuit is holding Smollett accountable for $130,106 covering 1,836 hours of overtime work that he did not reimburse by the city’s deadline. It does not specify the exact figure of the damages the city is seeking.
Smollett’s lawyer sent a letter last week warning the city that Smollett “will not be intimidated” into paying the money.
The new lawsuit will likely provide a forum for both sides to relitigate the case in the court of public opinion, as Emanuel in particular was visibly outraged after Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped all the charges against Smollett, calling the move a “whitewash of justice.”
In response, Smollett lawyer Mark Geragos said that the Chicago mayor was “acting literally unhinged.”
The controversy centers on an alleged hate-based attack Smollett suffered last month, which police came to believe was staged. Smollett maintains that he was the victim of a brutal assault by two men motivated by racism and homophobia.
Rahm is a fool. Given the speed with which the City dropped the charges, is he sure he wants to cope with discovery?
That’s something his successor is well qualified to assess.
Don’t worry, this will all make sense when Smollet’s behaviour is retroactively criminalized with the new ‘Urban Police Pursuing the Investigation of Terrorism Y’all’ legislation, or UPPITY Act.
NPR just ran an article this week:
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/711693214/new-hampshire-aims-to-change-legal-fee-policy-for-indegent-defendants
Simply because Mr. Smollet has more money than some people, it doesn’t change the injustice of trying to charge (financially) innocent people for the legal system, especially when they weren’t even charged (legally).
Good. This fraud should pay every penny.