Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a 2020 presidential hopeful, said Monday prosecutors’ decision to drop all charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett for reportedly faking his own hate crime “makes no sense” to her.
“I don’t understand why the prosecutors could not explain why they did what they did. I don’t think anything prevents them. They brought these charges. It’s a major public case in which major resources were expended. It makes no sense to me.” the Minnesota Democrat and former prosecutor said on ABC’s “This Week” show.
“You have an obligation, when you represent the public, to explain what you’re doing. They made a decision to bring those charges, and they made a decision to make those charges public, then they need to describe why they decided to go the other way. They didn’t do that,” she added.
Chicago officials have vocalized their disdain for the prosecutors’ decision Tuesday to expunged all charges against Mr. Smollett for allegedly faking his own hate crime to help his career, even going as far as seeking $130,000 from the actor to pay for the investigation.
Mr. Smollett has denied these accusations.
President Trump said Thursday the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department will review the “outrageous” decision to drop all charges against the actor.
“FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation,” he tweeted.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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