I recently wrote about the absurd decision by the Cook County State’s Attorney to drop 16 criminal counts against actor Jussie Smollett for his hoax hate crime in Chicago. The decision was an utter travesty of justice and, as I discussed, the reasons cited by the prosecutors make little sense from a prosecutorial standpoint. Now the Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association (representing 1000 line prosecutors in the state) has taken the rare step of publicly denouncing the handling of the case. The letter below describes the handling of the case as “abnormal and unfamiliar.” That is putting it lightly. There is a federal investigation but it is not clear what if anything can be done to hold Smollett — or these prosecutors — accountable for their actions in this scandal. However, there is also Smollett’s alleged hoax involving mail that could trigger federal charges. It is a disgrace that the only hope for accountability in Chicago will have to come from the federal government and not the Cook County State’s Attorney.
Here is the letter:
The Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association serves as the voice for nearly 1,000 front line prosecutors across the State who work tirelessly towards the pursuit of justice. The events of the past few days regarding the Cook County State’s Attorney’s handling of the Jussie Smollett case is not condoned by the IPBA, nor is it representative of the honest ethical work prosecutors provide to the citizens of the State of Illinois on a daily basis.
The manner in which this case was dismissed was abnormal and unfamiliar to those who practice law in criminal courthouses across the State. Prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges alike do not recognize the arrangement Mr. Smollett received. Even more problematic, the State’s Attorney and her representatives have fundamentally misled the public on the law and circumstances surrounding the dismissal.
The public has the right to know the truth, and we set out to do that here.
When an elected State’s Attorney recuses herself from a prosecution, Illinois law provides that the court shall appoint a special prosecutor. See 55 ILCS 5/3-9008(a-15). Typically, the special prosecutor is a neighboring State’s Attorney, the Attorney General, or the State Appellate Prosecutor. Here, the State’s Attorney kept the case within her office and thus never actually recused herself as a matter of law.
Additionally, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office falsely informed the public that the uncontested sealing of the criminal court case was “mandatory” under Illinois law. This statement is not accurate. To the extent the case was even eligible for an immediate seal, that action was discretionary, not mandatory, and only upon the proper filing of a petition to seal. See 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(g)(2). For seals not subject to Section 5.2(g)(2), the process employed in this case by the State’s Attorney effectively denied law enforcement agencies of legally required Notice (See 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(d)(4)) and the legal opportunity to object to the sealing of the file (See 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(d)(5)). The State’s Attorney not only declined to fight the sealing of this case in court, but then provided false information to the public regarding it.
The appearance of impropriety here is compounded by the fact that this case was not on the regularly scheduled court call, the public had no reasonable notice or opportunity to view these proceedings, and the dismissal was done abruptly at what has been called an “emergency” hearing. To date, the nature of the purported emergency has not been publicly disclosed. The sealing of a court case immediately following a hearing where there was no reasonable notice or opportunity for the public to attend is a matter of grave public concern and undermines the very foundation of our public court system.
Lastly, the State’s Attorney has claimed this arrangement is “available to all defendants” and “not a new or unusual practice.” There has even been an implication it was done in accordance with a statutory diversion program. These statements are plainly misleading and inaccurate. This action was highly unusual, not a statutory diversion program, and not in accordance with well accepted practices of State’s Attorney initiated diversionary programs. The IPBA supports diversion programs, and recognizes the many benefits they provide to the community, the defendant and to the prosecuting agency. Central to any diversion program, however, is that the defendant must accept responsibility. To be clear here, this simply was not a deferred prosecution.
Prosecutors must be held to the highest standard of legal ethics in the pursuit of justice. The actions of the Cook County State’s Attorney have fallen woefully short of this expectation. Through the repeated misleading and deceptive statements to the public on Illinois law and circumstances surrounding the Smollett dismissal, the State’s Attorney has failed in her most fundamental ethical obligations to the public. The IPBA condemns these actions.
This irregular arrangement was an affront to prosecutors across the State, the Chicago Police Department, victims of hate crimes, and the people of the City of Chicago and Cook County. We strongly encourage our members and the public to review the National District Attorneys Associations statement on prosecutorial best practices in high profile cases.
Best Regards,
Lee Roupas
President,
Illinois Prosecutor’s Bar Association
Kamala Harris and Jussie Smollett?
KAMALA HARRIS AND JUSSIE SMOLETTE video at this link:
https://cloverchronicle.com/2019/02/15/huge-kamala-harris-is-allegedly-involved-in-jussie-smolletts-maga-country-hoax/
______________________________________________________________________________________________
HUGE: Kamala Harris Was Allegedly Involved In Jussie Smollett’s “MAGA Country” Hoax
Smollett originally claimed late last month that he was attacked by two white men who shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him while they wrapped a rope around his neck and yelled, “This is MAGA country!”
Sources close to the case have told multiple news outlets that detectives are investigating the possibility that Smollett “staged the incident” with the help of the aforementioned brothers, who happen to originate from Nigeria and work with the actor on ‘Empire.’
Speaking of sources…
One person who apparently has knowledge of the situation claims 2020 presidential hopeful Kamala Harris may be involved (link):
“This puppy [Jussie Smollett] is tied to Kamala. There is a chance this will come out. CPD is pissed about the situation. They had the phone records before the spreadsheet was given to them. They also had the two Nigerians from following them on video from walking to taxis, etc. They had payment records. The interview on Good Morning America will be damning. Detectives have been 2 steps ahead the whole time. Would suggest for people to contact their representatives to have Kamala investigated. She is involved and wish I could tell you how I know. Just contact your reps and push for them to look into this. It may help.”
Kamala Harris Jussie Smollett Connection
But, why would Harris help Smollett stage an incident like this? Oh, that’s right: To make Trump supporters, as well as the POTUS himself, look even more “racist” than the media already portrays them to be. This would undoubtedly help not only her 2020 campaign, but her fellow Democratic contenders as well. On January 29, 2019, Harris took to Twitter to condemn the attack, saying it “was an attempted modern day lynching”:
So far, there has only been one post by this particular source. We’ll continue to keep an eye on it to see if they have any other potentially damning information about Kamala Harris’s alleged connection to the Jussie Smollett case.
UPDATE #1: Here is a video showing Harris and Smollett chanting “Time’s Up” at a MLK Day parade on January 15, 2018 –
One anonymous posting? On the face of it, it sounds implausible that someone with Kamala Harrris’ background would have wanted to take part in planning a hate crime hoax. Could this be yet another lame infowarfare attempt?
There are strong enough reasons to unseal the case records without needing this. I believe the FBI will figure out how to determine if there was a cover-up motive involved in Kim Foxx’s trashing of the process.
Meanwhile, on an issue of consequence – unlike the Smollet case – the former spokesman for the FBI, GOP Nevada legislator, and Bush era US Attorney appointee denounces Trump for tarnishing the FBI and making the work of federal prosecutors harder as a result. As he notes, the agency has always been small c conservative and it’s agents driven by dedication, not partisan agendas. The results of Trump’s self serving drivel is that his supporters enter the jury box with a chip on their shoulder toward FBI witnesses.
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c981a70e4b01ebeef10edf8
I don’t think that’s an accurate observation legally or politically. Legally, Smollett manipulated his celebrity to juice up press coverage of this matter — about a hate crime no less. A major component in analyzing a crime is to note the amount of harm — not just the action in and of itself. Politically, this gives Trump a free and unwarranted platform that he does not deserve — just like the Covington fiasco did.
Anon’s site is publishing garbage: “The FBI has taken some hits, mostly undeserved. It’s not good,” said a former FBI congressional liaison of Trump’s attacks on the agency during the Mueller probe.”
Undeserved? Undeserved for the rank and file, but those in charge? Most definitely not undeserved.
FBI Departures:
James Comey, director (fired)
Andrew McCabe, deputy director (fired)
Peter Strzok, counterintelligence expert (fired)
Lisa Page, attorney (demoted; resigned)
James Rybicki, chief of staff (resigned)
James Baker, general counsel (resigned)
Mike Kortan, assistant director for public affairs (resigned)
Josh Campbell, special assistant to James Comey (resigned)
James Turgal, executive assistant director (resigned)
Greg Bower, assistant director for office of congressional affairs (resigned)
Michael Steinbach, executive assistant director (resigned)
John Giacalone, executive assistant director (resigned)
DOJ Departures:
Sally Yates, deputy attorney general (fired)
Bruce Ohr, associate deputy attorney general (twice demoted)
David Laufman, counterintelligence chief (resigned)
Rachel Brand, deputy attorney general (resigned)
Trisha Beth Anderson, office of legal counsel for FBI (demoted or reassigned*)
John P. Carlin, assistant attorney general (resigned)
Peter Kadzik, assistant attorney general, congressional liaison (resigned)
Mary McCord, acting assistant attorney general (resigned)
Matthew Axelrod, principal assistant to deputy attorney general (resigned)
Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney, SDNY (fired along with 45 other U.S. Attorneys)
Sharon McGowan, civil rights division (resigned)
Diana Flynn, litigation director for LGBTQ civil rights (resigned)
Vanita Gupta, civil rights division (resigned)
Joel McElvain, assistant branch director of the civil division (resigned)
*Status Unclear
Why? 3 reasons follow. Anyone care to add to the lists.
financial self-dealing
political machinations
coverups for ineptitude.
It is a fact that rank and file agency and federal prosecutors have been damaged by our president’s self serving comments – it’s the only kind he makes – as noted by the GOP former agency spokesman in my linked article above.
Almost all US Attorneys change with the president as they are political appointees as are many higher ranking DC based DOJ officials. Their resignation is not a matter of shame, but SOP. Others noted by the poster above were fired in an attempt to obstruct justice or for vengeance by our infantile and destructive president. He has damaged the FBI and the DOJ.
In other words Anon you believe that rogue agencies doing the wrong things should be permitted to get away with it soley because pointing it out might damage an agency that is already corrupted? I can see where in your world that makes sense, but in a real world we don’t award criminal behavior.
It seems that Anon approves of financial self-dealing, political machinations, coverups for ineptitude.and other things. I guess if while competing to build homes he saw unlicensed and uninsured builders breaking the laws he would think that type of competition apprpropriate.
That’s how partisan Democrats ‘think’. They have no principles, just improvisations driven by who whom.
That’s as ignorant a statement as someone saying all republicans are self justifying stereotyping fools.
Only some of them are.
Anon……..a word in your ear:
intelligent adults do not link HuffPo if they want to be taken seriously.
The quotes from tge former GOP Nevada state legislator, W appointed USAttorney for Nevada, FBI spokesman are accurate and all editorial comment is by him.
Why does Jeffrey Epstein’s case come to mind? Epstein’s crimes were much worse but the process seems similar.
The Smollet case is small potatoes for Entertainment Tonight watchers and goofs who think there is racial or partisan gold to mine. Remember, beyond allegations of Michelle’s involvement – not a candidate for higher office yet – Rahm Emanuel, Pat of the Obama team has denounced the DA’s decision to not prosecute. So, either there is no Obama based conspiracy or those claiming one need to tell us who the players are and how they got on different teams. This is as confusing as their allegations of a deep state conspiracy which ended up electing trump.
“This is as confusing …”
Anon, you are indeed confused.
Foxx is now saying that “for a variety of reasons” the case was not a slam dunk and the outcome was uncertain which contradicts what she said earlier.
Assuming this new argument is going to be her position it creates further problems.
For example, if the case was always uncertain, then indictments should not have been pursued. While the standard for an indictment by grand jury is not as high as the reasonable doubt standard at trial, ethical prosecutors do not pursue indictments unless they have already determined that they have enough for conviction at trial. In addition tax payers become a bit ornery when you start a procedure that takes up other people’s time and money before you have determined that you can complete what you have started.
If conviction became uncertain after the indictments, there needs to be a much more detailed explanation for why that happened than a claim that it was “for a variety of reasons.”
She still maintains her fallback position that even if conviction was certain, the Smollett case was disposed of properly. But that didn’t work out too well for her.
“Foxx is now saying that “for a variety of reasons” the case was not a slam dunk and the outcome was uncertain which contradicts what she said earlier.”
What’s new ? Typical with people on the left. Look at this blog and how the resident leftists lie and contradict themeselves over and over again. Not only that, but they contradict well established fact.
Was there any collusion between Michelle O., her law firm and Smollett? We need a 2 year investigation on this matter.
Black elite privilege. Kim figured that if she carried water for the Obamas and Valerie Jarrett (whose daughter Laura is a CNN legal commentator), that she would be appointed Attorney General when Kamala Harris is in the White House.
Stupid move. Why? Because Kamala Harris will never be President.
Hopefully you’re right. I can definitely see her on the ticket as VP with Biden. Or appointed to Attorney General by Biden or some other Democrat. She isn’t going away. She half East Indian and has support from that community, as well has 1/4 black. She’s a slick polititician and is playing every angle, including the “female card.”
Nope. Biden will bow out…he will realize that he doesn’t stand a chance as the old white guy, he has way too much baggage, and he will save his ‘good name’ and preserve his legacy as it is today. He will not put himself thru the ringer. That’s my guess, anyway.
Agreed…Kamala isn’t going away. But she ain’t moving into the Oval Office either.
Would the Secret Service act as a chaperone if she was on the ticket with Uncle Joe?
She needs to have good smelling hair for Uncle Joe to get his face in there and take a big sniff of it. If she’s not sniffable? Not on the ticket with Joe. 😉
Joe may have just been trying the Biden Mind Meld, trying to see if he had Spock’s ability.
I think it’ll blow over unless there are more serious and numerous accounts like this one.
Or they find something suspicious in his high school yearbook.
Ha! you may be right….the stars might line up for old Joe, if they pair him with the right VP running mate, get the money behind him, etc. He wants it real bad, so he may go for it…but there’s a lot of history/baggage with Joe…Anita HIll, his yes vote on Iraq war…having to defend Obama policies…plus there are a lot of videos with Uncle Joe violating the personal space of both girls and women, making them noticeably uncomfortable…that stuff will be all over if he jumps in…how will the MeToo movement feel about it? so, we shall see…..
Crazy as it seems…I think Liz Warren or even Amy Klobuchar could get the nom before Uncle Joe this time around…or even before Kamala, whose lack of charisma, along with her prosecutor background, sleeping her way to power, her nasal voice, her white husband….her whole ‘package’ is about as appealing as dragging nails across a chalkboard…for anyone in the middle of the country, anyway… 😉
If Amy can win the primary, she’ll clean Trump’s clock in the general. She’s my candidate.
She’s the sort of person who’s nasty to waiters.
It will be like taking candy from a baby.
“More than 60 former staffers defend Klobuchar as ‘a mentor and a friend’
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/431534-more-than-60-former-staffers-defend-klobuchar-as-a-mentor-and-a-friend
“USA TODAY exclusive: Hundreds allege Donald Trump doesn’t pay his bills –
AMONG THOSE WHO SAY BILLIONAIRE DIDN’T PAY: DISHWASHERS, PAINTERS, WAITERS”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/09/donald-trump-unpaid-bills-republican-president-laswuits/85297274/
“Hundreds allege Donald Trump doesn’t pay his bills ”
“The Edward J. Friel Co. filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 5, 1989.”
Supposedly the contract was for $400,000. One can guess the last payment was somewhere around 20% or ~$80,000. He was advised it would take too long in court to collect so he went bankrupt and Trump never was taken to court. Firstly one has to wonder if that type of cost should have made that company go bankrupt. Maybe they were losing business because of a shoddy work-product and it was the lack of business that caused them to go bankrupt.
However, more importantly, why was the case dropped? A frequent reason for a case like that to be dropped was that the cabinet maker didn’t live up to the standards of the contract. If he did he didn’t have to pay the lawyer a dime. He could have gone on a contingency basis where the delays didn’t cost the attorney capital, but that seems not to have been done. Therefore the most likely reason for non payment was that the cabinet maker didn’t live up to the standards set by the contract.
He cheats at golf too. Figures.
https://nypost.com/2019/03/30/trump-is-the-worlds-worst-cheat-at-golf-players-and-celebs-say/
““To say ‘Donald Trump cheats’ is like saying ‘Michael Phelps swims,’” writes Rick Reilly in the new book “Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump” (Hachette Book Group), out Tuesday. “He cheats at the highest level. He cheats when people are watching and he cheats when they aren’t. He cheats whether you like it or not. He cheats because that’s how he plays golf … if you’re playing golf with him, he’s going to cheat.”
Reilly, a former Sports Illustrated columnist who has played with Trump in the past, spoke to dozens of players — both amateur and professional — to recount some of the president’s worst cons on the course, starting with his declared handicap of 2.8.
In layman’s terms, the lower the handicap, the better the player. Jack Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 major golf titles and generally considered the greatest golfer in the history of the game, has a handicap of 3.4.
Nicklaus’ handicap is listed on the same Golf Handicap and Information Network website used by Trump, where players post their scores.
“If Trump is a 2.8,” writes Reilly, “Queen Elizabeth is a pole vaulter.”
Shortly after he became president, Trump played with Tiger Woods, the current world No. 1 Dustin Johnson and the veteran PGA Tour pro Brad Faxon. Given the quality and profile of his companions, you might have thought Trump would have been on his best behavior. Not so.
On one hole, Trump dunked a shot into the lake, but as his opponents weren’t looking he simply dropped another ball — and then hit that into the water, too.
“So he drives up and drops where he should’ve dropped the first time and hits it on the green,” recalls Faxon.
The actor Samuel L. Jackson has also witnessed the underhanded methods Trump employs, according to Reilly.
“We clearly saw him hook a ball into a lake at Trump National [Bedminster, New Jersey],” he says, “and his caddy told him he found it!”
The boxer Oscar De La Hoya and rocker Alice Cooper have also seen the same shenanigans first hand, while LPGA player Suzann Pettersen, another victim, thinks it’s all down to his caddy “since no matter how far into the woods he hits the ball, it’s in the middle of the fairway when we get there.”
And Trump doesn’t just tamper with his own balls.
During a game with Mike Tirico before Trump was elected, the former ESPN football announcer hit the shot of his life, a 230-yard 3-wood towards an elevated green he couldn’t see. But he knew it was close.
When he got to the putting green, however, Tirico’s ball was nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was 50 feet left of the hole in a bunker.
It made no sense — until Trump’s caddy caught up with him after the round.
“Trump’s caddy came up to me and said, ‘You know that shot you hit on the par 5?’” Tirico says. “‘It was about 10 feet from the hole. Trump threw it in the bunker. I watched him do it.’”
Even Trump’s golf courses lie. As the owner of 14 golf clubs and with his name on another five, Trump has, according to Reilly, been known to wildly exaggerate their standing in course rankings, overvalue them and even play fast and loose with their locations…..
In a game where etiquette is everything, Reilly reports that Trump never takes his cap off for the end-of-round handshake, nor does he remove it in the clubhouse afterward, presumably for fear of what damage a sweaty round might have done to that hairstyle.
He’s even been known to drive his golf cart onto the putting green, an offense Reilly likens to “hanging your laundry in the Sistine Chapel.”
Quite why Trump cheats is another matter. He is, by all accounts, a very good golfer for his age (even Tiger Woods was impressed) but seems incapable of playing by the rules. Does he even care?
To that, Reilly offers a simple reply.
“Golf,” he writes, “is like bicycle shorts. It reveals a lot about a man.””
“He cheats at golf too.”
Anon, what a boring and inconsequential human being you are. Why don’t you worry a bit more about more consequential things? You must spend a lot of your time counting your toes.
Anon, I don’t think Klobuchar will “clean Trump’s clock,” but she is, imo, a more appealing choice than Kamala or even Bobby Francis O’Rourke 😉
TRob – Klobuchar will clean Trump’s clock primarily because she is the perfect antidote to him and Americans are already exhausted by him and want to turn the page. She is serious, intelligent, soft spoken, likable, experienced, and a woman who has several times been rated the most effective US senator. Democrats don’t need a left version of Trump – somebody stirring it up and throwing bombs. She won every congressional district in Minnesota in 2018 including MIchelle Bachman’s old seat.
Anon, about the ‘Trump cheats at golf’ thing….
I’ll say this…Obama only played with his tight inner circle, and always as an escape….
Obama had NO skill in deal-making, no experience with executive leadership, and no examples of any actual “bridge-building”….even though he portrayed himself as a ‘bridge builder.’….
Obama spent the entirety of his time escaping to the golf course, the frequent parties, lavish vacations… always avoiding, rather than engaging, his political opponents…he left that part to ‘others’…
The difference is that Trump is a skilled dealmaker and businessman who is willing to engage….and so maybe he cheats at golf…..at least he is willing to TRY and get something done…and will engage with anyone willing to come to the table..or to the golf course with him….we cannot say the same for Obama….
Since Trump isn’t known to throw looseleaf binders at his staff, she’s an antidote of sorts.
Anon said: “Democrats don’t need a left version of Trump – somebody stirring it up and throwing bombs”…I agree 🙂
Trob – can you give us an example of a deal Trump has made in office? So far he’s spoiled any number of them even when he controlled the house.
Obama oversaw the deal with Iran which ended their developement of nuclear weapons, the TPP which is now the official policy of all the other member states, and the Paris Agreement, which every nation in the world signed on to.
Trump got…………………………………………………….what?
Here’s a nice example of a bipartisan effort put forth by Trump’s team…
not sure if this will play:
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1zqKVOdWaNPGB?t=18m3s
TBob provides proof: “Here’s a nice example of a bipartisan effort put forth by Trump’s team…”
Now it is time for Anon to run away.
Obama oversaw the deal with Iran which ended their developement of nuclear weapons,
Actually, it oversaw their receipt of palettes of cash.
As for TPP, it’s default setting of legislation enacted by Democrats: an assemblage of carve-outs for special interests.
This article by Lucy Flores is just a taste of what’s to come for Joe Biden if he decides to throw his hat in the ring…I don’t think the money will be behind Joe…and I predict he doesn’t do it.
https://www.thecut.com/2019/03/an-awkward-kiss-changed-how-i-saw-joe-biden.html
This is his 3d attempt. He’s pushing 80. The smart money says the poll results are driven by name-recognition.
He really never had any business running. Compared to most national politicians, he’s a man of mediocre intellect. He has no executive experience in any venue. He had little in the way of a professional life prior to entering politics f/t (four years as an associate in a suburban law firm).
And, of course, he’s a hollow man. The Neil Kinnock business should have ended his career in public life. Because he’s brazen and really had nothing else he’d done, he persevered and the voters of Delaware ate that sh!t sandwich. Some people who know him say his real vocation is real estate sales, but he was evidently disinclined to attempt a career change in 1990.
The judge is up to his neck in the coverup. Why no mention of his involvement?
So, bloggers/bloggettes, other than possible Fed charges, does this mean Smollett gets off scot-free of local and state charges? Can a corrupt SA just cancel out forever any and all charges against a criminal simply by bamboozling a judge? Can’t the judge unseal the (whatever the name for all the paperwork) if the SA was lying, corrupt, unethical or criminal in her actions?
Yes, but it would take proof that Smollett or his defense team / proxies interfered with the judicial process. Or, that Kim Foxx violated State Law in first saying she would recuse herself, but then not following through to bring in an Special Prosecutor (required in the case of a State Atty recusal), and instead negotiating with parties favorable to Smollett to drop the charges and seal the case record.
It’s a matter of someone higher up in State Gov. to investigate the irregularities.
Or, in the Justice Dept. / FBI.
“Central to any diversion program, however, is that the defendant must accept responsibility.”
Jussie continues to say he told the truth and that he is innocent. Jussie continues to portray himself as a victim.
This corruption further pits the black community against the police and law enforcement.
Those at the NAACP Awards last night who declared “I stand with Jussie” are condemning those, like comedian/host Chris Rock who called Jussie out, as “siding” with the cops “against” Jussie. They believe Jussie is the victim…and that it is the cops who are lying about Jussie…that it was the cops who set Jussie up….NOT the other way around.
This corruption needs to be pursued and fully exposed.
Smollett’s attorneys:
“Today we witnessed an organized law enforcement spectacle that has no place in the American legal system. The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett and notably, on the eve of a Mayoral election. Mr. Smollett is a young man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence and feels betrayed by a system that apparently wants to skip due process and proceed directly to sentencing.”
His attorneys are digging a deeper hole to climb out of.
I agree with Chris Rock’s criticism of the results up to the point of his pointing out Smollett’s “light skin and curly hair.” Yes, Smollett is half white. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant. But that’s irrelevant to the handling of this case. Smollett wasn’t given celebrity justice because of “light skin and curly hair.” He was given celebrity justice by a star-struck prosecutor who wanted to advance her career by currying favor with black elites, just like O.J. was given celebrity justice by black jurors with an “us against them” mentality.
He’s a comedian…and he ‘went there’….good for Chris Rock…
Black elite privilege is why Jussie walked on 16 felony counts, and Rob Blagoyavich is doing 16 years in federal prison. Had Blagoyavich been black, Obama would have pardoned him, or at least commuted his excessive sentence.
Are you implying the left is racist?
Yes
Those at the NAACP Awards last night who declared “I stand with Jussie”
https://www.essence.com/celebrity/i-stand-with-jussie-celebrities-who-are-still-rooting-for-jussie-smollett/
Never heard of any of them.
The culture being what it is, one might observe you have four strands of thought:
1. Mama: consequences must not be applied to one of mine. He’s ‘innocent’ because I care about him.
2. Shame: cannot acknowledge ‘The Man’ is in the right. ‘The Man’ be just trash-talkin
3. Paranoia: It’s all a conspiracy ‘gainst one of ours. (See Harold Rothwax critique of the chain-of-custody arguments in the OJ case, which were swallowed by Stanley Crouch, a man who is as on-the-square as anyone in public live).
4. Marquis-de-Saint-Evremonde: police officers are peasants with no authority to impose standards on us. (In re blacks, this notion is held to by blacks and white liberals alike). The fury directed at people for supposed ‘racism’ is largely driven by this.
In the Duke rape case, local black leaders went full cray-cray. See KC Johnson’s critiques of Wm. Barber of the NAACP, among others. It was largely derived, as far as I could tell, from strand 2, with perhaps a thread of strand 4.
Well they can’t find a charge, but he’s not innocent. Why doesn’t he claim full exoneration and claim victory? It has worked before, now all he has to do is to talk a threatening way on how he can get back at those who accused him. That seems to work also. Now if he could only get a TV network to back him up 24-7 all could be well. Also, find brain-dead supporters who will believe everything he will say and cheer even if the facts don’t meet the reality of what he did. See the is problem solved.
You can’t handle the facts Fishy. You don’t even know which end is up. Did you believe Barack Obama’s con job and lies and cheer for him? How about Hillary’s lies and exposed corruption? are you Still With Her? Are you “brain-dead” or just brain-washed? The answer in your case? Both.
Your a known idiot, you do not have to prove it everyday.
Your one to call me names, man. Check you’re grammar while your at it Fishy 😉
Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
The fix was in, just like in Hillary’s investigation. Very similar outcomes. Publicly express outrage, then drop all charges. Only thing missing was a tarmac meeting.
Jessie Smellit the Adam Schiff of attacks by white MAGA hats.
They had no choice but to let Smollett off the hook
Otherwise Good Ole Boy Jussie would bring the rest of the plot down with him
What plot….give us specifics. If the Chicago Police found that others were involved in the hoax plan, they would have gone public. Nothing was stopping Chief Eddie Johnson from going public with facts turned up in the investigation.
Moe! Larry! Cheese!
From the Three Stooges.
Please keep this friggin dork’s photo off the blog! Jesso.
Kim is really looking forward to lunch with Michelle when the Obamas are back in town.
Corruption and Democrats. Nothing more need be said,
The Chicago/Cook County fix is in. Its legendary.
I’m all in on this one. Just tell Roupas ro watch his grammar. See if you can find it…..
“Diversionary” should be “diversion.”