The FBI has launched a probe of the Jussie Smollett case after felony charges were suddenly dropped in relation to his allegations that he was the victim in late January of a racist and homophobic attack at the hands of Trump supporters.
The investigation got underway Wednesday as FBI officials sought to determine how a sufficient amount of evidence gathered against the “Empire” actor could be overlooked after he agreed in an emergency court hearing the day before to forfeit a $10,000 bond and complete 16 hours of community service.
The president himself weighed in Thursday morning, blasting Chicago prosecutors’ decision to drop the case.
“FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!” Trump tweeted.
The investigation comes as State’s Attorney Kim Foxx defended a bombshell decision to walk away from the prosecution — even as she maintained her office had an airtight case.
“Based on the facts and the evidence … this office believes that they could prove him guilty,” Foxx told Chicago’s ABC News affiliate.