Thread by @jmetr22b

We are back at the #Smollett trial. Webb confirms he's finished his cross. Attorney Nenye Uche is on redirect.

Uche asking if Ola had shown up uninvited before, Smollett says yes, many times. "Let me clarify... uninvited by me," he says.

Smollett testifies that "tons" of his Instagram followers got his Instastory messages. Uche trying to reinforce that he was not giving Abel Osundairo private updates about his flight status on the night of the attack.

Smollett says he even posted the weather on his Instagram so followers could see that the "Winter Vortex" was coming.
I've noticed that in the past few mentions of it, "Polar Vortex" has morphed into "Winter Vortex"
Can we get a ruling, Mr. Skilling?

Uche asks if the Osundairo brothers reached out to him after the incident and said they'd tell the truth "that there was no hoax" if he gave them each $1 million.
Smollett: Correct.
Q: Did you give them the money?
A: No.

Q: The FBI accused you of sending the threatening letter?
Smollett: No, Eddie Johnson did.
Objection and move to strike from prosecutors. Linn sustains and again instructs Smollett to answer only the question asked.
He also stops Uche from asking about CPD leaks.

In case anyone on here is wondering, no one has ever been charged with sending that letter. The FBI had it analyzed and as of last year was still calling it an "ongoing criminal investigation."

Uche is done with redirect. Webb back up, asking about when Smollett gave the FBI his DNA. He says it was five or six months after the attack, and he never offered to give it to CPD

Webb finishes by asking about the alleged $2 million payment. Smollett says it wasn't a direct ask. "Their lawyer or agent or agency communicated to my people. To my lawyers."

Smollett is off the stand

Next witness is the Uber driver who was called by the Osundairo brothers on the night of the attack to pick them up at 4139 N. Ashland Ave.

At the end of Smollett's testimony, Webb moved to strike anything about the $2 million, saying the question had been "disguised" in redirect and he would have objected. Linn said too late to strike, but advised jury that they can decide what weight, if any, to give it.