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Unbelievable_Cook County prosecutors drop all charges against 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by kyredneck, Mar 26, 2019.

  1. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Cook County prosecutors drop all charges against 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett

    "In a stunning move, Cook County prosecutors on Tuesday dropped all charges against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett on disorderly conduct charges for allegedly staging a phony attack and claiming he was the victim of a hate crime.

    “We believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case,” Assistant State’s Attorney Risa Lanier said in court in announcing the dismissal of all 16 counts.

    There had been no clue that prosecutors planned the about-face move before the announcement. A publicist for Smollett’s attorney was the first to notify the news media Tuesday morning, issuing an alert that did not elaborate on the nature of the emergency.

    Moments after Judge Steven Watkins allowed the dismissal, attorneys for Smollett issued a statement.

    "Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him,” the statement said. “Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.

    “Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions,” the statement continued. “This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.

    “Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career."

    Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi declined immediate comment, saying he expected both police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel would address the issue later in the day.

    A grand jury indicted Jussie Smollett on 16 counts of disorderly conduct in February. Cook County prosecutors on March 26, 2019, dropped all charges against Smollett on disorderly conduct charges. The 36-year-old actor vehemently denied lying to police and faking a homophobic attack in the Streeterville neighborhood on Jan. 29, 2019.

    (Chicago Tribune)
    “Everyone knows how the department feels,” Guglielmi told a Tribune reporter. “The superintendent and mayor will (speak) on the city and department’s behalf.”

    At a news conference last month announcing the charges against the celebrity, Johnson spoke out in anger about Smollett, saying his hoax dragged "Chicago's reputation through the mud."

    The 36-year-old actor, who was free on $100,000 bond, has previously denied lying to police or faking the attack.

    The actor, who is African-American and openly gay, has said he was walking from a Subway sandwich shop to his apartment in the 300 block of East North Water Street about 2 a.m. Jan. 29 when two men walked up, yelled racial and homophobic slurs, hit him and wrapped a noose around his neck.

    Smollett said they also yelled, "This is MAGA country," in a reference to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan of "Make America Great Again."

    Police initially treated the incident as a hate crime, but their focus turned to Smollett after two brothers who were alleged to have been his attackers told police that Smollett had paid them $3,500 to stage the attack, with a promise of an additional $500 later.

    Police pieced together much of their evidence by reviewing footage from about 55 police and private surveillance cameras showing the brothers' movements before and after the attack.

    The shift in the investigation came amid intense press coverage and often bitter public debate and stinging skepticism on social media.

    Smollett addressed those doubts in a national TV interview and in a strongly worded statement after the brothers were released from custody after questioning by police.

    A week before the alleged attack, Smollett told police he received a threatening letter at work. Prosecutors said Smollett staged the attack because he was unhappy with the studio's response to the threatening letter. Chicago police took it a step further, accusing Smollett of faking the letter as well.

    Federal authorities are conducting a separate investigation into that letter."
     
  2. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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    He walks but the taxpayers will have to pay the bill for the false alarm. It's tough to convict a million dollars.
     
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  3. 777

    777 Well-Known Member
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    They don't call it Crook County for nothing. There still could be federal charges against Jussie that the Machine can't stop. Kamala, Obama, and Oprah were all on his side and any or all of them could be involved.
     
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  4. Adonia

    Adonia Well-Known Member
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    Just more proof that the Chicago political machine remains an ongoing criminal enterprise. Democrats destroy everything they touch, including now the justice system.

    A Grand Jury, the voice of the people in these matters found probable cause that he committed these felonies. Smollet is claiming he is innocent, well, he should have had his day in court and let the jury decide if he truly was.
     
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  5. Wingman68

    Wingman68 Well-Known Member
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    Chicago Police Union Wants Federal Investigation Into Kim Foxx's Handling of Case After She Exchanged Texts With Smollett's Relatives

    Really.
    What else can you expect. Justice? In Chicago? For a gay black man who is part of the in crowd? Here’s your justice....given to you by your black, woman, states attorney, we’re not even taking him to trial. Just like always he does not even have to admit anything. He’s sticking to his story. And they’re going to let him. Because..........................can’t answer that without being branded with every name in the book. See how this works? The truth can not be tolerated by the left. You will be the evil doer should you speak it. I’m glad I’m old.
     
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  6. Adonia

    Adonia Well-Known Member
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    This is Baltimore redux, with their pitiful state's attorney who levelled charge after charge against the police with little evidence to appease the baying mob. Not only that, but a multi-million dollar settlement was reached with the family of Mr. Gray WITHOUT any negotiations on the city's part.

    Justice was certainly not done here in the Smollet case. Let's hope the Feds are made of sterner stuff.
     
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  7. RighteousnessTemperance&

    RighteousnessTemperance& Well-Known Member

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    But it’s OK, because, you see, he only incited hatred, you know, against people who, well, deserve it. --:Devilish BAMN
     
  8. Ziggy

    Ziggy Well-Known Member
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    That's assuming a federal case can be made, and that a federal prosecuter will pursue it. I wouldn't bet on it happening.
     
  9. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Jussie Smollet created a fake crime, wasted taxpayer money with police investigations. He's free to go, and records sealed.
    The governor of Virginia wore a KKK costume in college. He's still in office.
    The Lt. governor of Virginia wore black face. He's still in office.
    The attorney general of Virginia sexually assaulted a woman. He's still in office.
    The attorney general of Minnesota assaulted his girlfriend. He got elected to office.
    The congresswoman from Minnesota's 5th district married her brother to get a green card. She got elected to office.

    Must be nice to be a Democrat.
     
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  10. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    Nothing that happens in Chicago is "unbelievable."
     
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  11. Adonia

    Adonia Well-Known Member
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    There is the initial hoax letter that is believed to have been sent by Jussie to himself, you remember the one with the white powder in it? That is the Federal case, using the U.S. Mail for criminal activity.
     
  12. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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    Obama got him off.
     
  13. Wingman68

    Wingman68 Well-Known Member
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    O
    Oh man.......don’t tee up a puppy like that, I’m trying to abide by the rules. Heh.
     
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  14. RighteousnessTemperance&

    RighteousnessTemperance& Well-Known Member

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    James Woods had some choice tweets; implicated Soros in the deal, but perhaps they were smart enough to handle any illegal portion with cash, or, shall we say, "circumspectly"?

    But I'll quote my favorite: "Now maybe he can help OJ look for Nicole’s killer..."
     
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  15. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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    FOB. Friend of Barack. Part of the Obama entourage. Chicago deserves whatever happens to it and it is for sure that the police should just stand down and let the criminals have the city 100%. It is clear that the Chicago Mob is back in charge. Why should the police risk their lives for this garbage? It's another London.
     
  16. Wingman68

    Wingman68 Well-Known Member
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    FOB=FUBAR in military terms.
     
  17. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, but it is a shipping term, meaning that goods are at a certain place and you have to pay the shipping from that place. It is an old joke that FOB means Friend of and then someone whose name starts with B. I don't want to get into any military terms here. That Chicago mess is so disgusting. For me, it is about the last straw with Chicago, a city I have been to all my life.
     
  18. Wingman68

    Wingman68 Well-Known Member
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  19. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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  20. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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    I am sorry but I think that the Chicago Chief of Police or Superintendent or whatever they call him should resign.
     
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