WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement today on the decision by prosecutors in Chicago, Ill., to drop charges against actor Jussie Smollett. Smollett is accused of wasting law enforcement time and money by orchestrating a fake hate crime against himself. A grand jury charged him with 16 counts of disorderly conduct. He faced more than 64 years in prison.
“The dismissal of all charges against Jussie Smollett is just another example of Hollywood privilege,” Kennedy said. “There shouldn’t be one set of rules for ordinary people and another set of rules for Hollywood actors with political connections. What Mr. Smollett is accused of doing is disgusting. If you or I did what he did, we would be put under the jail. Ordinary Americans who get up every day, go to work, obey the law, pay their taxes and try to teach their kids morals get cracker crumbs. Privileged actors who hire someone to fake a hate crime, file a false police report and get indicted on 16 charges get cake.”
That’s embarrassing,” said Kennedy. “Since Chicago prosecutors refuse to do their job, the U.S. attorney should review the case for violations of federal crimes. I don’t buy that Mr. Smollett should be excused for his crime because it was nonviolent. That’s not criminal justice reform. Justice exists when people receive their just desserts. Committing a crime should have consequences. This was not justice.”