Chicago Mayor on Smollett: 'This Is Not on the Level'

Jussie Smollett talked to the media Tuesday after prosecutors dropped all 16 felony counts against the Empire actor, CBS Chicago reports. "I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of doing what I was accused of," he said in Chicago, referring to allegations that he concocted a story about being attacked. "I'd like nothing more than to just get back to work and move on with my life, but make no mistake, I will always continue to fight for the justice, equality, and betterment of marginalized people everywhere.” The 36-year-old went to call this "an incredibly difficult time, honestly one of the worst of my entire life." Meanwhile, the surprise development has the mayor and police seething. Details:

• 'Whitewash': Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel slammed the decision and called it a "whitewash of justice," per the Chicago Tribune. "From top to bottom, this is not on the level."
• Police reaction: "Do I think justice was served? No," says police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. Edward Wodnicki, a senior Chicago detective, calls it "absolutely a punch in the gut" that "is just shocking."
• No deal: Smollett lawyer Patricia Brown Holmes says she didn't make any deal with prosecutors. "There is no deferred prosecution," she tells the Chicago Sun-Times. "The state dismissed the charges. We believe it was the correct result."

• Good evidence: First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats, who made the decision, says this doesn't validate Smolletts' contention he was really attacked. "Absolutely not," he says. "We stand behind the CPD investigation done in this case, we stand behind the approval of charges in this case."
• So why drop them? Magats says they treated Smolletts as they would any defendant: "It's a nonviolent crime. He has no felony criminal background. If you start looking at the disposition in the case, in every case you need to look at the facts and circumstances of the case, and the defendant’s background."
• No comment: Asked if Smollett would take legal action against the city of Chicago or his alleged attackers, brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, Deadline reports that Holmes said firmly: "Next question." She also told reporters the check Smollett gave the brothers was for nutrition and physical training, "exactly what Jussie said."
• 'Voluntary' penalties: Smollett has agreed to do "voluntary" community service, per Law & Crime, and relinquish his $10,000 bond, which Holmes calls a common practice. It's unclear how all this affects the Osundairo brothers.
• Sealed: Forget about seeing the public court file. Judge Steven Watkins had it sealed "for unclear reasons," says the Tribune.
• Smollett's family: Their statement calls him "innocent" and "unjustly smeared" and adds, "We look forward to bringing the real perpetrators to justice," per CBS Chicago.

(More Jussie Smollett stories.)