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Racist white men in Chicago attacked black gay actor and said “This is MAGA country”? Media/activists who are out for blood pounced on this. Police now deny the anonymous claim by @TMZ that this is what the victim even claims. reason.com/blog/2019/01/2…
In time we will see what the investigation produces. Forgive me for being skeptical of anonymous depictions of white Trump supporters as cartoony ominous villains. The streets of Chicago are not the place of “MAGA country.”
Police say that @JussieSmollett did not initially tell them that the attackers shouted “MAGA country.” He DID however offer that explosive, important bit of information in a follow-up interview.
Mr. Smollett does not hide his dislike for the President. 
Update to #JussieSmollett alleged hate crime attack by Trump supporters:
-Chicago police announce they have not found any video surveillance of the attack or suspects despite looking at dozens of sources.
-Chicago police announce they have not found any video surveillance of the attack or suspects despite looking at dozens of sources.
Updates to #JussieSmollett alleged attack:
-Smollett’s friend was first to call police. He declined medical attention for him. Media refer to incident as a “brutal attack.”
-Smollett told police officers to turn off body cams when they took first report.
-Smollett’s friend was first to call police. He declined medical attention for him. Media refer to incident as a “brutal attack.”
-Smollett told police officers to turn off body cams when they took first report.
Contrary to sensational media reports, police say Smollett didn’t identify attackers as white. He said they were masked and wearing gloves. For latest updates check out CWB Chicago: cwbchicago.com/2019/01/update…
Just days ago Smollett said Trump and “his white hooded cohorts are a national disgrace.”
This is important:
Update: Chicago Police say they may have located potential people of interest from security footage in #JussieSmollett case:
The screen shot released just shows a grainy image of two people walking on the street. They could be bystanders or witnesses.
Curious. @rkylesmith rounds up what we do know three days after the #JussieSmollet alleged attack. It isn’t much. nationalreview.com/2019/01/jussie…
No medical evidence of a broken rib either as TMZ reported.
I wonder why Smollett is not cooperating in the investigation and has yet to make a public statement. Looking at his social media, he’s not shy about self-promotion or being outspoken about his political views. This was allegedly a political attack.
Exclusive: A source with knowledge of the investigation says police have scoured all security footage of the area & all they could find was the image of the two people casually walking before the alleged attack. They don’t think they are related to the incident.
Must have been a really good sandwich.
Just heard from @Chicago_Police about my FOIA request for report on Smollett. “As the potential harm to the above specified individual clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure, it is the position of the [CPD] that the requested documents are exempt from disclosure...”
👇🏻
“Chicago police said Sunday that Smollett has yet to turn over data from his cellphone to verify that he was on the phone with his music manager, Brandon Moore, when he was allegedly attacked.” nypost.com/2019/02/11/jus…
Source with knowledge of #JussieSmollett investigation says that Smollett’s manager, Brandon Moore, has REFUSED to let police examine his phone. Moore is the key witness who said he could hear the attackers over the phone.
Jussie Smollett has obtained the services of a crisis firm. They released a statement on his behalf:
#JussieSmollett spoke for the first time on camera about the alleged hate attack in a pre-taped interview set to air tomorrow. LA Times reports that the actor broke down in tears.
In his first sit down interview, @JussieSmollett talks about the alleged attack. He implies that those who doubt him are motivated by racism. He admits to not wanting to fully cooperate w/police by letting them analyze phone because of privacy concerns. abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/ex…
As others have pointed out, the PR firm Jussie Smollett hired is the same one representing accused sex predator Harvey Weinstein. It is interesting that an alleged victim would hire such heavy & expensive representation. dailywire.com/news/43451/jus…
.@rkylesmith chronicles how Smollett’s details on the alleged attack have changed. nationalreview.com/corner/jussie-…
Reading between the lines, it appears that Jussie Smollett may have walked into a trap he accidently help set up. Must read: cwbchicago.com/2019/02/smolle…
Update: ABC 7 Chicago reports that #JussieSmollett staged the attack for attention because he was getting written out of the show. Chicago PD stated for the record that this reporting is “unconfirmed.”
Police have arrested two Nigerian brothers in connection with the #JussieSmollett alleged assault. One of the brothers worked on the Empire show, which stars Smollett. apnews.com/35dc59643bbc42…
Update: #JussieSmollett has obtained Michael Monico as his defense attorney. Monico is the high profile attorney who represents Michael Cohen. Follow Chicago-based @RaferWeigel for updates.
Update: The Nigerian suspects have been released without charges.
.@MattFinnFNC reports that Chicago Police seized a bottle of bleach as evidence from Jussie Smollett’s property.
Chicago Tribune crime reporter @JeremyGorner reports that when the Nigerian brothers’ attorney was asked to comment if Smollett set up his own attack, she said: “There’s still a lot of moving parts to this... I’m not part of Jussie’s defense.”
I though Jussie was the accuser.
I though Jussie was the accuser.
Watch this interview feat. Gloria Schmidt, the attourney representing the Nigarian brothers who were arrested & then released without charge following the exchange of “new information.” Her comments, though limited, illuminate a lot. #JussieSmollett
“After interrogating & releasing two men seen in surveillance video near the scene of the alleged attack on ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett, Chicago police are saying that the new information they have ‘could change the story entirely.’” abcnews.go.com/US/information…
.@RaferWeigel reports that his sources with knowledge of the #JussieSmollett investigation say the brothers were willing to cooperate after police showed that it was indeed them who purchased the “lynching” rope. Whatever they revealed to CPD has changed story as we knew it.
Breaking: Now being reported all over that #JussieSmollett paid the two Nigerian brothers to fake the hate attack.
“[Jussie] has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack.” Read Smollett’s lawyers’ statement. Source: @ABC7Chicago
Trying to catch up on the Jussie Smollett story? Read this BBC report: bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-…
Correction: Chris Bastardi from Sunshine Sachs says they do not and have not represented Harvey Weinstein. I apologize for repeating this.
Video leaked to media shows the Nigerian-American brothers buying a red hat & masks. Sources tell CBS Smollett paid them $3500 to fake the attack & they rehearsed it. Meanwhile @EmpireFOX says Smollett is still part of the set & show. chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/20/jus…
Jussie Smollett has been charged with felony disorderly conduct related to the alleged hoax where he paid black men to beat him up and then blamed it on racist Trump supporters. chicagotribune.com/news/local/bre…
Source tells me that the rank and file officers at CPD are angry at how their PR is coddling Smollett with comments like this. He is wanted for a felony offense & his location remains unknown. abc7chicago.com/jussie-smollet…
CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson: "This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary.” How emblematic of America today. Narcissists exploiting & faking pain of white racism to further their careers & relevancy.
CPD says Jussie Smollett paid the brothers with a check. And the police have it. CPD also believes the scratch on his face as shared in the selfie video was self-inflicted.
CPD had to negotiate a surrender for Smollett’s arrest. This is his mugshot: nbcnews.com/news/us-news/c…
.@EmpireFOX is removing Smollett’s character from end of the season. The show’s producers like @Dannystrong consistently sought to discredit those who were skeptical. They even hired security to protect from Trump supporters when the risk was from within. thewrap.com/jussie-smollet…
Jussie Smollett has a criminal history of being dishonest. In 2007, after being questioned by police in CA for driving intoxicated & not having a valid driver’s license, he identified himself as his brother @JAKESMOLLETT. He signed that name as well. wreg.com/2019/02/20/com…
Smollett has used his celebrity status to being attention to topic of hate crimes before, particularly lynching, which makes this story a bit more sick. Last year he was the correspondent in ep. of @America_Divided. He talked about hate crimes & lynchings. chicagotribune.com/entertainment/…
Update: A grand jury has indicted Jussie Smollett on 16 felony counts. #HateHoax wsj.com/articles/smoll…
Breaking: Prosecutors have dropped charges against Jussie Smollett.
This doesn’t sound like justice. #JussieSmollett
“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,” said Smollett’s spokesperson. The case is sealed from the public record. chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/03/26/jus…
CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson responds to charges being dropped against Jussie Smollett: “They chose to hide behind secrecy and brokered a deal to circumvent the judicial system.”
"I do not believe he is innocent," says First Assistant Cook County State Attorney Joseph Magats. The reporter asks then why the charges were dropped:
Jussie Smollett did 2 days of community service at Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH organization on Sat & Mon. He forfeited his bond & all the charges were dropped. FYI Smollett has a criminal history: he was previously convicted of DUI & impersonating his brother during police stop.
.@CWBChicago has released the police investigation file of Jussie Smollett. Request for interrogation video was denied. cwbchicago.com/2019/03/exclus…
Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff appears to have interfered in the investigation on Smollett’s behalf. She contacted the State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
Interesting details from the Jussie Smollett investigation file: the brothers’ car got stuck in parking lot after they bought the items for the hate hoax. One had to get out to push car. Also, they say they used a hot sauce bottle to store the bleach. Bottle recovered at scene.
Read the police reports on the Smollett hoax! The State’s Attorney office did NOT want them released. CPD got it out before they were stopped. Immediately CPD then received a court order mandating that no other files be released. cwbchicago.com/2019/03/exclus… #JussieSmollett
The Chicago police union is calling for the DOJ to investigate the State Attorney’s office after it was revealed that Kimberly Foxx had been put in contact w/Smollett’s family. Union: “she has transformed the prosecutor’s office to a political arm of the anti-police movement.”
Important: Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx did NOT formally recuse herself in Jussie Smollett case. She says she “informally separated herself from 'decision-making.'" Records show she privately communicated w/Smollett’s personal contact & family. patch.com/illinois/chica…
How is this “inadvertently” done twice? CPD was contacted after it released the police reports and informed that they could no longer release anything else under the newly revised court order.
.@20thcenturyfox says Jussie Smollett will be on tonight’s episode of “Empire.”
Update: The FBI is now reviewing circumstances of why all the criminal charges against Smollett were dropped. Update 2: a leaked email from the prosecutor's office show them scrambling to find other cases where charges were suddenly dropped under conditions like Smollett's.
“Do you consider him guilty?” State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is questioned by ABC 7 Chicago on why the charges were dropped against Jussie Smollett. She hesitates to answer. It was revealed through a FOIA that she privately communicated w/his friend & family.
Source inside CPD relays that it is absolutely NOT NORMAL to have an alternative prosecution where the defendant doesn't admit guilt. (Jussie Smollett actually gave a victory presser proclaiming innocence.)
The National District Attorneys Association releases statement highly critical of Kimberly Foxx: “When a chief prosecutor recuses him or herself, the recusal must apply to entire office...” “Prosecutors should not take advice from politically connected friends of the accused.”
The spin Kim Foxx’s office is trying to put out is that it’s entirely “consistent” for alternative prosecutions to conclude in such a way. @CWBChicago dug through records of those in Cook County w/cases comparable to Smollett. His deal is not normal. cwbchicago.com/2019/03/kim-fo…
Kim Foxx has a lot of influential celebrity ties. Who? Jesse Jackson for one. Smollett did his community service for Jackson’s org. Who else? Kamala Harris. John Legend. Foxx previously attended same political rally w/Harris, Smollett & his sister. chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/03/27/coo…
Update: The city of Chicago wants Jussie Smollett to pay back the $130,000 it cost to investigate his #HateHoax. amp.usatoday.com/amp/3299899002
Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association releases stinging critique of @SAKimFoxx: “the State’s Attorney & her representatives have fundamentally misled the public on the law & circumstances surrounding the dismissal.” #JussieSmollett
The main Chicago police union, @FOP7Chicago, is leading a protest of @SAKimFoxx on Monday in response to her office dropping all charges against Jussie Smollett. Foxx is embroiled in controversy for her private communication w/Smollett’s friend & family.
Just to reiterate, Jussie Smollett’s defense attorney asked for the case to be sealed. The prosecutor agreed to that. Hopefully we will find out why.
Jussie Smollett is nominated for the 2019 NAACP Image Awards, set for Saturday. Actor @anthonyanderson: “I hope he wins. I’m happy for him that the system worked for him in his favor because the system isn’t always fair, especially for people of color.” usatoday.com/story/life/peo…
“Despite publicly stating she recused herself from the Jussie Smollett case, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office told CNN it was not a formal recusal.” chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/03/28/kim…
Jussie Smollett’s lawyer is asked why there is record of him communicating with the brothers shortly before the “attack.” Listen to her answer.
Prosecutor Kim Foxx is asked about why she was privately communicating with Jussie Smollett’s friend and family: “I tak to victims and victims’ families all the time.”
Jussie Smollett's lawyer is asked directly: Does your client plan to apologize to the victims of hate crimes who will now be disbelieved because of his ridiculous stunt? Listen to her replies.
Have you seen this 2017 Jussie Smollett music video? It’s an intersectional BLM/Women’s March/hijab anthem. Seen in video: fake Donald Trump & a noose. The video was directed by Smollett. Makes you wonder.
Update: Chicago police officials just had a press conference where they called on @SAKimFoxx to resign. They say her incompetence goes way beyond Smollett's case. They accuse her office of reducing charges of too many criminals & letting them go free.
Update: Chicago is preparing a lawsuit against Jussie Smollett after he refused to pay back the $130k the city billed him for the investigation into his hate hoax. washingtonpost.com/national/the-l…
Saani Mohamed, a former assistant prosecutor in Kim Foxx’s office, has filed a petition asking for a special prosecutor to look into Jussie Smollett & whether Foxx or people connected to her interfered in the investigation. chicagotribune.com/news/local/bre…
Jussie Smollett’s lawyer Mark Geragos sent a letter to the Chicago Department of Law. Smollett rejects the demand to repay the city of Chicago for the costs to investigate the hoax. Lawyer says any future prosecution of Smollett would violate the ban on double jeopardy.
Supporters of Kim Foxx are now using the race card in response to those who are calling for her to resign. Prosecutor Foxx didn’t properly recuse herself from the Smollett case after she privately communicated with his friend and family.
Prosecutor @SAKimFoxx, who communicated w/#JussieSmollett’s family, had said she recused herself. Newly released texts show she was still involved & told colleagues charges were too harsh. She & her supporters say the scrutiny on her is due to racism. nytimes.com/2019/04/17/us/…
Breaking: The brothers involved in #JussieSmollett hoax are suing his lawyers for defamation. After the charges were dropped, his counsel did a media tour in which she stated the brothers were indeed involved in criminal battery & may have worn whiteface. abc7chicago.com/jussie-smollet…
"We have sat back & watched lie-after-lie being fabricated about us in the media only so one big lie could continue to have life." The brothers who were paid to attack #JussieSmollett are now suing his attorneys for defamation.
