Charges against Jussie Smollett dropped
The Jussie Smollett hate crime case, and then hoax hate crime case, has been one of those highly-publicized stories that captured the attention of the American public. It had everything: Maga-hatted haters, a gay black actor alleging a beating with homonphobic and racist slurs, and then an unraveling in which all the evidence seemed to point to it being a hoax perpetrated by the alleged victim himself, with the help of two Nigerian brothers.
I remember reading (although I don’t know where, I recall it being in more than one place) that, because it was Chicago, Smollett would never be tried and if tried he would never do time. Now that appears to be the case. Whatever his guilt or innocence, the charges have been dropped by the prosecutor. Here’s the reaction of the city of Chicago’s mayor, Rahm Emanuel, and its police superintendent:
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his city’s police force Tuesday afternoon, denouncing prosecutors for dropping charges against “Empire” star Jussie Smollett and slamming the episode as a “whitewash of justice.”
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Emanuel said they were not only furious with the outcome of Tuesday’s surprise hearing but also blindsided by the decision itself, with the officials only learning Smollett wouldn’t face charges for allegedly faking a hate crime at the same time the public found out.
“Where is the accountability in the system? You cannot have – because of a person’s position – one set of rules applies to them and another set of rules apply to everyone else,” Emanuel said. “Our officers did hard work day in and day out, countless hours working to unwind what actually happened that night. The city saw its reputation dragged through the mud…It’s not just the officers’ work, but the work of the grand jury that made a decision based on only a sliver of the evidence [presented]. Because of the judge’s decision, none of that evidence will ever be made public.”…
Johnson slammed the prosecution for not consulting with cops and hinted the episode could further strain the relationship between the department and the DA.
“I don’t know what’s unusual for the state’s attorney but we found out about when you all did,” Johnson said. “Prosecutors have their discretion of course, we still have to work with the state’s attorneys office — We’ll have conversations after this.”
But Johnson made sure to add, unequivocally: “At the end of the day it was Smollett who committed this hoax.”
Ordinarily I don’t come to a judgment about a case that hasn’t been tried, but when the city’s Democratic mayor and black police superintendent say something like that in a case with this particular set of allegations, attention needs to be paid. It tells you just how deep the rot may go in Chicago, a city that already had a long-time reputation for very shady machinations.
What actually happened? Well, there’s this:
The actor reportedly reached a deferred prosecution deal with prosecutors that removes the charges.
And then we have this:
For unclear reasons, Judge Steven Watkins ordered the public court file sealed.
Also see this:
A furious Johnson said prosecutors brokered a deal with Smollett in secrecy.
“I’m sure we all know what happened this morning,” Johnson said at his press conference. “Do I think justice was served? No. What do I think justice is? I think this city is owed an apology.”
“At the end of the day, it’s Mr. Smollett who committed this hoax, period,” Johnson said. “I heard that they wanted their day in court … so America could know the truth, and they chose to hide behind a secrecy of a brokered deal to circumvent the judicial system.” …
Emanuel noted that “a sliver” of the evidence was presented to a grand jury, which indicted Smollett. He said Smollett used race and privilege to “get off scott free” and that the actor has shown no remorse or accountability for his actions.
“A person using hate crime laws that are on the books to protect people who are minorities, and you turn around and use them to advance your career?” Emmanuel said. “Is there no decency in this man?”
[NOTE: Some of the rumors are detailed here. I don’t think we’ll ever know what happened; certainly the sealing of the records certainly doesn’t make it any easier.]
James Woods over on Twitter has an idea.
the horror of being an oppressed black in the US
being let go when guilty…
having crimes ignored cause too many cause them
having innocents put in jail to even it out
removing hard entrance tests cause dey must be a conspiracy to prevent them from attending schools that love chinese so much they game them out of them.
and more..
nice… no wonder communists have them in their back pocket..
I’m from Chicago and live near it. Not that I was/am a soothsayer, but I saw this coming long ago. Emmanuel…….its funny, everybody involved in this was one of his people. From the perpetrator to the DA’s office and some additional help from Team Oblahblah. And he’s mad. Thats so rich.
Social justice: Not the same as actual justice.
Black privilege only applies if you’re a wealthy black person. It’s kinda like white privilege that way.
Connect the dots.
Privilege is as privilege does and it looks like this silly, petty, greedy little man took the privilege. His mommy got him out of prison the same way the Varsity Blues mommies got their kids into colleges. $$$. Money talks, Jussie walks.
I don’t see a lot of people going along with this. It’s going to stick to him forever.
I bet he thinks he’s gonna come out of this a beacon of justice but he’s not. His career will tank.
Also, there’s still the possibility that the federales could get him for mail fraud.
Rahm Emmanuel is shocked, shocked to find gambling going on in here.
In a week, the voters of Chicago will be choosing between two leftist black women, one lesbian and the other not, to replace the truly terrible Rahm, who has, for perhaps the first time ever, actually made some sensible remarks.
I was surprised to hear Rahm being sensible, until I remembered he’s not running again.
I did think that sixteen felony counts sounded like overkill, but walking free and only forfeiting his $10k bail isn’t justice.
Chicago! The new Detroit.
Maybe the prosecutor and Chicago pols figure the Post Office will get Smollett for sending himself terrorist threats via the mail, so why should they take the PR hit for prosecuting Smollett.
Sure, it’s chicken manure but whatever gets the Chicago Deep State through the night.
It’s interesting Rahm Emanuel stands with the Chicago Police in denouncing the Smollett deal, but I suspect that goes back at least to the Laquan McDonald scandal. McDonald was killed by the police and the video suppressed so it wouldn’t hurt Emanuel’s up-coming 2015 election and the reputation of the Chicago Police.
Who knows what sort of backroom deals exist between Emanuel and the CPD. Of course, that doesn’t mean they are wrong to object to Smollett’s slap on the wrist.
Everything can be purchased in Chicago.
Reminds me of when Trum boasted in 2015 that HRC would be in jail if someone like the caricature of Rahu Trum was President.
Sucha biga surprise-a! Not!
Most were expecting that he walks.
I did, but was hoping for real justice.
Now we know why Smollett walked into that judicial hearing a few weeks(?) ago with a smirk and a swagger, he knew that the fix was in and that, he was going to be allowed to walk.
And apparently, prosecutors have no fear of an electoral backlash from the voters…
It apparently escapes nearly all on the left that “after a long train of abuses”, the consequence of a terrible retribution is building…
Mean spirited children, playing with fire…
“blindsided by the decision itself, with the officials only learning Smollett wouldn’t face charges for allegedly faking a hate crime at the same time the public found out.
“Where is the accountability in the system? You cannot have – because of a person’s position – one set of rules applies to them and another set of rules apply to everyone else,” Emanuel said.”
“Emanuel, speaking alongside Johnson at Navy Pier Tuesday afternoon, called the decision a “whitewash of justice.” The mayor essentially accused prosecutors of giving Smollett special treatment because of his status as a celebrity.”
“State Attorney Kim Foxx, recused herself from the probe after it surfaced that she had been in touch with Smollett’s family.”
* * *
Does this mean we can quit “having a conversation about race,” since apparently famous black people now have the same privileges as famous white people?
“Does this mean we can quit “having a conversation about race,” since apparently famous black people now have the same privileges as famous white people?”
Ok…I laughed out loud at that one.
Except I reckon famous black people “who attend to the narrative” have more privilege. Famous black Bill Cosby…not so much.
Reminds me of when Trum boasted in 2015 that HRC would be in jail if someone like the caricature of Rahu Trum was President.
there is still time tongzhi, there is still time…
and, there is always his second term…
which more and more is looking to be a shoe in given his opposition is validating his not being dishonest… in fact, being dishonest with his front view and so many disliking him, would never be wise, as he was never part of any ‘in’ elite crowd, which is why you don’t like him… they didn’t make you like him like some of the other horrids… quite the opposite actually…
but his games with their desire to get em, and get em good, had them waste all this time on a nothing… pfffft… air… and the obstruction? well, since the investigation went on, and nothing was found in terms of the investigation, what did he not obstruct? all they have is obstruction of innocence
right now, they are years in, have no platform other than not him (or Ginsberg is a dyin), a incredible long line of entries with no chance, etc… they wasted all their energy/money/creds/etc in blind opposition and trying to make a ‘nothing’ worse cause they expected something and wanted it blown out of proportion.
so wrong, but so happy at being wrong is you
I’ve been looking to see what folks on the left have to say about this. So far I’ve found only these tweets by David Axelrod (https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod):
Outrageous, indeed.
Rich Taylor on March 26, 2019 at 3:38 pm at 3:38 pm said:
I’m from Chicago and live near it. Not that I was/am a soothsayer, but I saw this coming long ago. Emmanuel…….its funny, everybody involved in this was one of his people. From the perpetrator to the DA’s office and some additional help from Team Oblahblah. And he’s mad. Thats so rich.
Classic political trick. All my speeches are for this bill. All of my supporters and lobbyists and bribers are getting people to vote against this bill.
See, it works. Americans buy it.