Police believe 'Empire' actor hired men to stage attack

[left-of-center2012]

https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/430368-police-believe-empire-actor-hired-men-to-stage-attack-report

Chicago police now believe that "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett paid two men to stage an attack that the actor and his family claimed was perpetrated by men yelling racist, homophobic, and pro-Trump language.

Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that police now believe Smollett paid two men arrested previously and spoke to investigators, adding that police have records of the two men purchasing rope that Smollett said was tied around his neck at a Chicago-area Ace Hardware store.

"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," the Chicago Police Department said in a statement. "We've reached out to the Empire cast member's attorney to request a follow-up interview."

Smollett's representative did not immediately return request for comment.

The news comes hours after Smollett issued a denial of a Variety report claiming he had hired the criminal defense attorney representing President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen. Two men arrested on suspicion of conducting the assault on Smollett were also released without charges or explanation from police.

[SMC22307]

1. Smollett should be ashamed of himself...

if he did indeed orchestrate this.

[BannonsLiver]

2. Something seemed "off" about this story from Day 1

[Sneederbunk]

5. The rope was over the top.

[BannonsLiver]

7. Yeah I didn't even think of that aspect

But you’re right. The fact that downtown Chicago isn’t MAGAT country, he wouldn’t turn his phone over and his changing description of who attacked him were red flags. I’m sort of relieved it was probably a hoax — this time.

[WillowTree]

24. For one thing, he claimed they poured bleach on him.

This implies that said bleach was in liquid form. The problem here is that bleach freezes at around 18° and the temperatures in Chicago that night were well below zero. That and any number of other things gave lots of people pause upon hearing his story.

They say he could get 3 years for perpetrating this fraud. I'll be surprised if he's even prosecuted.

[Beakybird]

3. Such a liar! He should run for President.

[mr_lebowski]

4. Whoever's idea of a publicity stunt THIS was is going down in the annals of history ...

The show, Empire (which was a hit, from my understanding) ... is now DONE.

I predict that another episode of that show will never be seen on TV.

Like, ever.

Somebody just fucked up REAL, REAL bad.

[Demovictory9]

6. who said that show Empire had anything to do with it. Rumor is that Smollett was being cut from sho

show. Maybe it was the work of the individual.

[helpisontheway]

9. What does the show have to do with it? They took his word

and supported him. They arranged for the entire cast to have armed security. I don’t see why the cast has to lose their jobs based on one actor. Plus it is not like they can’t continue without him. Yes, he is a talented singer but they have three sons. They can just have him die. There were rumors that he was leaving the show a couple years ago due to money. He supposedly wanted more money like Terrance Howard and the lady that plays Cookie.

[cwydro]

17. I don't see why the show has to be done.

It doesn’t appear they have anything to do with it.

[mr_lebowski]

18. Okay, fair enough, if this is entirely this one mans idea, may not be as bad as all that

If it's discovered anyone 'higher up' in the show's production was involved ... gonna be big trouble for the show itself.

[SixString]

8. Remember when...

[Raine]

10. Disgusting

to claim an attack like this when it never happened, there's enough hate around without creating more thru fakery.

[cwydro]

11. The right will use this story anytime there's a hate attack now.

This is a disgrace and dishonor to those who suffered and died in real attacks.

I can’t imagine what Matthew Shepard’s parents must be thinking. Smh.

[Raine]

12. Right wing sites are already

really playing this thing up all over the internet.

[cwydro]

14. I'm not surprised.

Very sad. I hope Smollett at least has to pay a fine.

[LisaL]

13. Well looks like they have a good case to scream about in this particular case.

[quickesst]

15. If it finally turns out...

.... that this incident was indeed a hoax perpetrated by Smollett, you won't see many people and politicians stepping up and saying "Gee, I was wrong about Smollett." What you will see is a plethora of statements filled with whataboutism, like that completely vindicates their rush to defend smollett's hoax. Notice that I started my post with the word "if". That's because smollet's claim could still be true if other facts come to light. That will not be vindication for the whataboutism excuses for the rush to support Smollett. I would more likely call it dodging a bullet.

[BlueStater]

19. From the perspective of human behavior, it was reasonable to believe he was telling the truth.

Most people, especially actors from with nice gigs on successful TV shows, don't make up random stories about being attacked and then lie about it to the police, thus risking jail time and career ruin, for absolutely no reason at all.

A lot of people are liars, but they don't usually lie when there's nothing in it to benefit themselves. What did he possibly think he could have gained from doing this? Slightly more name recognition? Is he one of those psychos, like Roger Stone, who doesn't care about being a joke as long as people know who he is? And was he really so arrogant that he didn't think professional detectives would be able to discover that his story was bullshit?

I can only conclude that he's a lunatic, an incredibly stupid man, or both. We were wrong, but it was completely reasonable to assume otherwise because most human beings, especially ones in his position, wouldn't do something this batshit insane. It boggles the mind.

[LisaL]

20. A lot more name recognition.

I never heard of him before this incident, and likely many other people never heard of him before this incident.

[quickesst]

23. It's okay that regular everyday citizens....

..... might jump to a hasty conclusion concerning a situation such as this. We only have to face judgement from a few of our peers , and our judgments do not affect anything but our own self-esteem. People who are vying for the most important job in the world, that of the president of the United States, should know better than to make rash statements 5 seconds after the news comes out. It puts into question their ability to make important decisions without thinking them through that will affect millions of people. Normal behavior for us is not normal behavior for possible presidential candidates. As for myself, I suppose I can take some small comfort in that I did not make a statement until more facts were apparent, and if you haven't noticed, I'm still an "if".

[Mr. Quackers]

16. Rule Number One of Scams:

it can't look like a scam. You have to take in the likelihood of a reasonable person believing your caper.

He would have been better off staging this in Boystown and making it look like a anti-gay hate crime.

And the noose? Bad touch. Chicago isn't Alabama. Northern racists relied more on firebombs and beatings way back when. And the legal/real estate system.

He did his scam wrong. The good thing? He isn't a criminal. The man ain't made for that shit.

[dsc]

21. A GM plant in Ohio literally just had it come out that

nooses were put on the lockers of black workers.

[Mr. Quackers]

22. Ohio,

you said Ohio. As in North Mississippi.

"JUST DON'T GET OFF THE TURNPIKE!"