Officials in Chicago have dropped the charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself. Earlier this month, Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts for allegedly staging the January attack and lying to officials. Nuccio DiNuzzo via Getty Images Officials in Chicago have dropped criminal charges against “Empire” actorJussie Smollett. I don’t see Jussie Smollett as a threat to public safety.” “We stand behind the investigation, we stand behind the decision to charge him and we stand behind the charges in the case. NEW from Chicago: Joe Magats, the first assistant state's attorney who made the final decision to drop the charges against Jussie Smollett, says in an interview: "We didn't exonerate him."

Source: Huffington Post March 26, 2019 15:27 UTC