Illinois state rep introduces bill to withhold tax credits from any production that hires Jussie Smollett

Illinois state Rep. Michael McAuliffe (R) says he is introducing a bill to withhold tax credits from any production company that works with “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who is the subject of fierce backlash following this week’s announcement that the charges against him have been dropped.
“The General Assembly here in Illinois gives a very robust tax credit to any production company that plans on filming TV shows or movies,” McAuliffe said Thursday on CNN.
“Someone like … Smollett or someone else that would commit the same type of act should not benefit from this generous, robust tax credit that is offered from the city of Chicago residents and the tax payers of the state of Illinois,” he said.
IL state Rep. Michael McAuliffe says he’s introducing legislation to kill tax credits to productions that hire Jussie Smollett: “I feel…someone like Jussie Smollett or someone else that would commit the same kind of act should not benefit from this generous, robust tax credit” pic.twitter.com/L5QgLvpTye
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) March 28, 2019
{mosads}Smollett had told Chicago police officers that he was the victim of a January hate crime in which two men attacked him while shouting racist and homophobic slurs and used pro-Trump language. Smollett himself was arrested after police said the purported crime was actually a hoax he had set up.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that it is dropping the charges against the actor, leading to an uproar from those who claim the actor is getting special treatment.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson ripped the decision, saying justice had not been served.
President Trump tweeted Thursday that the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) will “review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case.”
FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019
McAuliffe said the ordeal “made Chicago a national laughing stock.”
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