So....It Appears Jussie Smollett --- Likely Lied....

[LovingA2andMI]

"Chicago (CNN)- Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Chicago Police believe Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate the assault.

The brothers, who were arrested Wednesday, were released without charges Friday after Chicago police cited the discovery of "new evidence." The sources told CNN that the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Smollett told authorities he was attacked early January 29 by two men who were "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs." He said one attacker put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.

The sources told CNN that there are records that show the two brothers purchased the rope found around Smollett's neck at an Ace Hardware store in Chicago.

Smollett gave his first detailed account of what he says was a hate crime against him, and the aftermath, in an interview with "Good Morning America" that aired Thursday. During the interview he expressed frustration at not being believed.

"It feels like if I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black I feel like the doubters would have supported me a lot much more," Smollett said. "And that says a lot about the place where we are as a country right now.

CNN's attempts to reach both Smollett's representative and attorney Saturday were unsuccessful."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/16/entertainment/jussie-smollett-attack/index.html

WOW....In these days and times. WOW!

[dhol82]

1. Weird.

[FreeState]

2. Which could explain his reluctance to give his phone

To the police. It could have been used to communicate between the three. My guess is they will get a search warrant for it now.

[helpisontheway]

3. Suspect gave police his phone and there was a call between Jussie and one of the guys

Before the attack.

[LovingA2andMI]

4. Yep....

And Jussie Smollett needs to be charged with the crime of making a false police report and fired from Empire, immediately.

[musicblind]

5. Well, that's awful.

If true, and it looks true, Jussie Smollett should be charged to the fullest extent of the law.

When people lie about being victims of a crime, that makes it harder for actual victims to come forward.

[jcmaine72]

6. Given Chicago PD's long history of racism...

... I'd ordinarily take anything they say regarding an African American crime victim with a grain of salt. However, this is starting to look fishy

I'm still inclined to give Smollett the benefit of the doubt. However, it's becoming increasingly difficult to do that with each passing day.

[LovingA2andMI]

7. Especially....

When the two paid attackers were friends of the "alleged victim".

[jalan48]

8. Why would he do this? nt

[Lunabell]

9. OMG, I hope it isn't true.

Damn, there's enough homophobic violence without him doing this.

[madville]

10. I think it's more of a relief it didn't happen

That means there aren't two maniacs running around performing hate crimes in Chicago.

[lunasun]

27. two maniacs running around performing hate crimes in Chicago.Yelling about MAGA in -9 weather in

that area of Chicago
A waste of community police and detective time The whole thing was very bad for the city, many communities here in Chicago frightened at first
He was a bad director and needs to pack up and leave town I believe he no longer has a job here anymore anyway
he went so far like that interview on abc and saying he fought off 2 attackers

[madville]

29. If it was a hoax

He should have to do some prison time (Class 4 felony sentence in IL is 1-3 years max) and pay the city back for all the manpower and overtime it has cost them at least.

[lunasun]

37. if they didnt frind out who attacked him many would complain the police were not doing enough being

such a high profile case . Plus they needed to know if communities were at risk so I do not blame them for the amount of man power used following through on his attack until they could finally solve it, but yes loss of time and also money , the cost

[Power 2 the People]

11. How the fk can anyone be this stupid?

Now the right wing will live off of this for the next two years. Any racial attack will now be doubted because of this guy.

[LovingA2andMI]

14. Yep...

Jussie has to be beyond Cancelled after some mess like this.

[lunasun]

31. They are having a feast today.He sucks and I am pissed off he used my city as his drama backdrop

But you are correct, it will not be just today, they will feed off it for a long time . His bonehead plan has handed them a platter
DIfferent layers of outrage at this moron

[MontanaFarmer]

12. Great that it didn't happen

But any time something like this happens, it distorts truth and lies, and ultimately helps further the "snowing" of the masses by those who decry "fake news." I know this isn't fake news like trump talks about, but all i'm saying is it doesn't help those of us who want the truth told, and believed, in public. This guy, if this is true, deserves prosecuted the maximum allowed by law.

[Catherine Vincent]

13. If this is true...

Why would this idiot do such a thing?

[LovingA2andMI]

15. Rumor has it...

He was going to be Cancelled off of Empire. So, for a continued paycheck. If the rumor is true, that is why he staged this S**t...

[Catherine Vincent]

17. Stupid Stupid

He'll never get hired now.

[uponit7771]

19. Fox has confirmed there was no plans to cancel Smollett

... so that motivation is out the window

[LovingA2andMI]

20. That was BEFORE this information was revealed today....

Fox has to save what's left of the show of "Empire" which after this, should be equally cancelled along with Jussie.

Look, as Members of the African-American Community, we are beyond pissed off at this s**t as this has set our community back as we are the community constantly under ATTACK in the Era of Racist A** Trump. We have a right to be PISSED...

[oldsoftie]

46. So put everyone on the show out of work because of THIS asshole? No way.

Get rid of the character in the most embarrassing way & move on. The show has been getting decent ratings as far as I know.

[WillowTree]

24. Not if he believed that he was about to be written out of the show.

[jberryhill]

34. That doesn't mean he may have believed otherwise

What matters is his state of mind, which may have not been correct.

[USALiberal]

16. If this is true then Smollett is an idiot, what a clueless plan, especially using his friends. nt

[uponit7771]

18. Has there been any official word question mark there has been a lot of false reporting about this is

... most of the cleaning from quote-unquote sources inside the CPD

[madville]

26. Mostly the BS reporting is the misinformation the CPD public spokesman puts out

But some of that could be by design. There is no way detectives were not exploring or considering the possibility this a hoax, their job is to investigate all possibilities and leads. Sounds like his goose is cooked though from their official statement today "new evidence has lead the investigation in a different direction" and them saying they have been in contact with his lawyers to arrange him to come back in. I bet he gets charged when he comes back in.

[cwydro]

43. He has hired a lawyer - Michael Cohen's lawyer, no less.

Not a good sign.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. Where are these leaky sources when it comes to cop brutality cases? Dang!

[madville]

22. A possible theory is that it may not have been meant to be reported to the police

but just used for publicity for his upcoming concert/album in some way. Remember it was his roommate that called police against his wishes initially. Perhaps then he felt he had no choice but to stick to the story. But why do it this way in the first place? Still lots of unanswered questions out there.

[jberryhill]

35. Ah, okay

I was curious about whether he called police or whether they came to him.

Yeah, he was cornered by that.

[smirkymonkey]

25. Really stupid move.

The right wing is going to have a field day with this and it's going to make future REAL victims look less believable. What an idiot.

[SoCalDem]

28. Amazing how people these days forget about all the cctv cameras

Nothing goes unnoticed anymore
Things like this are quite sad because they not only damage the people perpetrating them, but they also hurt people who truly do have awful things happen, and they are not believed.:

[madville]

30. Or that they had their real phones and used their ride share apps to get there

Idiots to think the cops wouldn't track them down with the footprint we leave in all this technology these days otherwise.

[lunasun]

32. 100% -they also hurt people who truly do have awful things happen, and they are not believed.:

[madville]

33. CBS Chicago is saying that the brothers were paid $3500

and promised $500 upon their return to Chicago.

[orleans]

36. this

https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-police-eager-to-urgently-speak-to-jussie-smollett-after-2-persons-of-interest-released-from-custody/5141900/

CHICAGO -- Chicago police are "eager" to again speak again with "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett about his alleged attack after two brothers were arrested in connection with the attack agreed to cooperate with police, sources said Saturday evening.

"We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. We've reached out to the Empire cast member's attorney to request a follow-up interview," said Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

Guglielmi said they have reached out to Smollett's attorneys Friday night. "We made our intentions clear," he said.

[Apollyonus]

38. This hurts the cause .... nt

[a kennedy]

39. *crying*. * pissed off*. *mad as hell*

Why would he do this???

[cwydro]

44. I watched that GMA interview.

A really bad case of overacting.

He says he’s an actor, but he’s not very good at it.

[lunasun]

40. He has hired some big time lawyer that Michael Cohen recently hired

Michael Monico, a former federal prosecutor in Illinois’ Northern District
Must be an expert in lying so pissed so many levels

[LovingA2andMI]

42. The Same Attorney That Said...

Michael Cohen could not come testify before Congress because he was supposedly "so sick" -- then he was spotted going out to dinner the next day....

[spooky3]

41. Shouldn't we wait until all the facts are in before judging? Nt

[Azathoth]

45. This thing always sounded a little fishy

I mean, what kind of thugs go wandering around Chicago at night with a *noose* and just happen to stumble on a famous black actor? Stranger things have happened of course, but the whole thing sounded a little contrived.

Between this and the Covington Catholic fiasco, the MAGA crowd are really scoring propaganda victories for their "fake news" campaign. I hope Dems and the news media wise up and stop running with these kinds of stories until the facts and circumstances have been independently verified.

[BlueStater]

47. MAGA idiots can claim what they want.

But there's actual video footage of the Covington brats acting like a bunch of sexist and racist shitheads. I don't care if some sham investigation "cleared" them. I'll trust my own eyes.

[madville]

48. Latest News: Case heading to grand jury this week

Presentation of the case was originally scheduled for Tuesday but has been pushed back, prosecutors will be attempting to indict Smollett for the false police report which is a felony in IL, carries a 1-3 year sentence in state prison. Police have the two brothers in protective custody and they will be voluntarily testifying before the grand jury.

Smollett's spokesperson stated that he will not be talking to the police today. (I seriously doubt he talks to them again, basically giving them more evidence at this point)

[madville]

49. I haven't seen it mentioned yet

But if Smollett was also involved in the threatening letters that arrived through the USPS mail at the Empire set the week before the "attack", he could potentially be looking at some Federal criminal charges as well as the state charges that reportedly will be sent to a grand jury this week.