The FBI and the Department of Justice will review the "outrageous" Jussie Smollett case in Chicago, President Donald Trump announced Thursday on Twitter.
Trump called this week's decision by Illinois prosecutors to drop all charges against the "Empire" star for allegedly fabricating a hate crime "an embarrassment to our Nation!"
FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!
On Tuesday, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office suddenly dropping the charges for allegedly filing a false police report after claiming in late January to have been beaten up and subjected to homophobic and racist slurs by two masked men in Chicago. Smollett forfeited his $10,000 bail as part of the deal.
The decision to drop charges has sparked a backlash from officials, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and the public, prompting the actor's lawyer to issue a blistering statement Wednesday accusing Chicago officials and police of trying to "smear" Smollett even after the case is closed.
"We are disappointed the local authorities have continued their campaign against Jussie Smollett after the charges against him have been dropped," said attorney Patricia Brown Holmes, "We should all allow Mr. Smollett to move on with his life as a free citizen."
Material from The Associated Press was use in compiling this report.