Chicago police chief furious over dropping of Smollett case

NY Post -Chicago’s top cop is “furious” that all criminal charges were dropped against Jussie Smollett — and believes the evidence against the actor was “rock solid,” according to a report.

Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was not consulted before the prosecution decided to drop the 16 counts of disorderly conduct against Smollett, police sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.

He found out about the stunning development in the middle of a police academy graduation ceremony that was scheduled the same time Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office made the announcement, the newspaper reported.

TMZ -You'll recall State's Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the case. She reportedly had asked cops to stand down at the behest of Tina Tchen -- Michelle Obama's former Chief of Staff and a friend of Jussie's family. The conflict forced Foxx to bow out.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office tells us the decision to drop all charges against Jussie was made by Joseph Magats -- the First Assistant State's Attorney -- who was placed in charge of the case after Foxx's recusal, and NOT by Foxx.

It's still odd. Sources tell TMZ the prosecutor in the case, as late as Friday afternoon, was making plans to handle issues involving cameras in the courtroom for the trial ... and seemed completely unaware of plans to drop the case.

More on the State Attorney's role in this case

Daily Mail, UK -   Smollett, who is black and gay, on Tuesday maintained that he was telling the truth about being attacked by two strangers yelling racist and anti-gay slurs, who he said punched him, poured bleach on him, and looped a noose around his neck.

A meticulous review of surveillance cameras and car hailing data led police investigators to the Osundairo brothers, who worked with Smollett on the television show Empire.

The brothers, who are American citizens of Nigerian descent, flew to Nigeria just hours after Smollett reported the attack, and were detained immediately upon their return two weeks later.

The pair were questioned and confessed that Smollett had paid them to stage the attack, police said.

Police also recovered a wealth of corroborating evidence, including footage of the brothers casing the scene of the alleged attack with Smollet, and of them purchasing masks and rope like that used in the incident.