Smollet Released From Jail

He's gonna be very busy in general population.

The Wise And Powerful wrote:

LOL

SERIOUSLY, ARE THE PIECES COMING TOGETHER YET...??? THERE IS STILL MORE TO THIS STORY...!

Jussie Smollett suspended from Empire TV show
1 hour ago


Jussie Smollett will not appear in the final two episodes of Empire, the show's executive producers have said.

In a statement, they said the past few weeks had been "incredibly emotional" for the team.

They called allegations that Mr Smollett had falsely claimed he was the victim of a hate crime "disturbing".

The 36-year-old African-American actor is accused of filing a fake police report claiming he was the victim of a homophobic and racist assault.

Police say he staged the attack because he was "dissatisfied" with his salary.

US actor's alleged hate hoax 'despicable'

Jussie Smollett: A complete timeline

In the statement, the Fox production team said: "The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us. Jussie has been an important member of our Empire family for the past five years and we care about him deeply.

"While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out.

"We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show, and to avoid further disruption on set we have decided to remove the role of Jamal from the final two episodes of the season."

It is not clear whether Mr Smollett will return to the show in future seasons.

What is Jussie Smollett accused of?

Mr Smollett is accused of paying two brothers to stage the attack. Chicago officials also believe that he sent a racist and homophobic letter to himself at a Fox studio beforehand.

At an earlier hearing, a judge set the actor's bail at $100,000 (£76,000).

Mr Smollett, who was pictured outside the courthouse after posting bail, denies the charge of felony disorderly conduct.

His lawyers have said they will "mount an aggressive defence" of Mr Smollett, who they described as "a young man of impeccable character".

What did he say had happened?

Mr Smollett said two white men hurled racist and homophobic insults at him when he went out late at night to buy food from a Subway sandwich shop in Chicago on 29 January.

He said they then punched him, poured a potentially chemical substance over him and put a rope around his neck - a reference to racist lynchings of African-Americans.

He also claimed the men said "this is Maga country" during the assault, a reference to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again".

How has the case unfolded?

Officers began to grow suspicious when they were unable to find any footage of the incident, despite reviewing more than 50 surveillance cameras. There were also no witnesses.

But investigators say they managed to use a ride-sharing app to track and identify two brothers who were filmed near the scene.

The men, Ola and Abel Osundairo, flew to Nigeria after the alleged attack. On their return last week, they were held for almost 48 hours.

Officials said they were released without charge after providing information that "shifted the trajectory of the investigation".

One of the brothers is Mr Smollett's personal trainer, and both had worked as extras on Empire.

Police say they have a cheque, signed by Mr Smollett, which showed that he had agreed to pay the brothers $3,500.

Chicago PD Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Mr Smollett told at least one of the brothers that he was "dissatisfied" with his salary on the show. According to the Huffington Post, he was being paid $65,000 (£49,785) per episode for his starring role.

In a press conference, Supt Johnson called the alleged scheme "shameful", adding: "Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations? How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?"

He also accused Mr Smollett of taking "advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career".

On Wednesday, CBS Chicago obtained footage which appeared to show two people buying materials that were allegedly worn by the actor's attackers.

The next day, Mr Smollett turned himself in. His next court date is set for 14 March.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47336596

Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 felony charges by grand jury
By: Michael Stern
Posted: Mar 08, 2019 05:09 PM EST, Updated: Mar 08, 2019 05:19 PM EST


Jussie Smollett mug shot

CHICAGO (WRIC) -- A grand jury indicted "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett to 16 felony counts, according to ABC affiliate WLS in Chicago.

Smollett was charged with one count of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report, but now he faces 16 other counts of disorderly conduct.

Smollett denies that he paid two brothers to stage a racist and homophobic attack against him. He has already posted a $100,000 bond to be freed from custody.

https://www.wric.com/news/national/jussie-smollett-indicted-on-16-felony-charges-by-grand-jury/1836318661

Jussie Smollett: Prosecutors drop all charges against actor
BBC | 17 minutes ago

Prosecutors have dropped all charges against US actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack.

The Empire actor attended a court hearing in Chicago on Tuesday, where a judge sealed the case.

Mr Smollett, 36, pleaded not guilty this month to 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police.

The black and openly gay actor thanked his supporters outside court after the hearing.

He said: "I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one.

"I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I've been accused of."

He added: "This has been an incredibly difficult time, honestly one of the worst of my entire life."

Mr Smollett vowed he would continue to "fight for the betterment of the lives of marginalised people everywhere".

The Cook County State's Attorney's office said in a statement: "After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr Smollett's volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case."

But according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago police Supt Eddie Johnson was not briefed on the decision to drop the charges.

He only learned of the surprise move while attending a police academy graduation ceremony, according to the city newspaper.

A police department source told the Sun-Times that Supt Johnson was "furious" and that the case against Mr Smollett was "rock solid."

Mr Smollett voluntarily agreed to give up his $10,000 (£7,500) bail money, his lawyer said, emphasising there had been no deal with state prosecutors to dismiss the charges.

Smollett attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said in a statement that their client's record "has been wiped clean."

"He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement," the lawyers said.

"Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions. The entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion."

Mr Smollett said he was attacked in the early hours on 29 January in downtown Chicago outside a sandwich shop by two masked men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs, poured bleach on him and put a rope round his neck.

He claimed they shouted: "This is Maga country", a reference to President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan, and that at least one of the assailants was white.

But Chicago police said Mr Smollett paid two brothers, both of whom are black, $3,500 to stage the attack because he was "dissatisfied with his salary" on the TV show.

His lawyer maintained outside court on Tuesday that the cheque was for nutrition and physical training.

Ms Holmes also alleged that the two Osundairo brothers, who apologised for "their involvement in this situation" earlier this month, were Mr Smollett's attackers.

"We already know who attacked him," Ms Holmes told reporters. "The two brothers have said that they attacked him."

She could not offer a reason as to why the case "seemed to spiral somewhat out of control", but lambasted Chicago police for not allowing the state to properly look into the incident.

"You should allow investigation, and allow the state to investigate a charge before you go to the press," Ms Holmes said.

Authorities had also accused Mr Smollett of sending a racist and homophobic letter to himself at a Fox studio beforehand.

The US president lashed out last month at the actor on Twitter, saying, "what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA."

Mr Smollett's family said in a statement to US media on Tuesday that the actor had been vindicated.

"Jussie is a son, a brother, a partner, a champion for human rights, and a genuine soul who would never be capable of what he was falsely accused of," said their statement.

"He was the victim of an assault and then falsely blamed for his own attack. This morning truth has prevailed and he has been vindicated.

"All charges have been dismissed and his record expunged (cleared). The painful incidents we've witnessed him endure over the past 7 weeks have been heartbreaking and unjust to say the least.

"While many were quick to rush to judgement before hearing the actual truth, we are grateful that the truth about Jussie has come to light.

"We look forward to bringing the real perpetrators to justice. We thank God and our village for standing by us during this trying time."

Mr Smollett stars as a gay musician on Fox's drama series Empire, which follows the ups and downs of a family-owned hip-hop label.

The verified Twitter account of the writers' team on Empire posted a celebratory tweet after Mr Smollett's court appearance.

Grackle wrote:

I had just heard about that ...Unbelievable ...Somebody was politically influenced or flat out bribed

Quoted for truth ↑

Published 5 hours agoLast Update 27 mins ago
Chicago PD Superintendent Eddie Johnson, Rahm Emanuel call Jussie Smollett charges being dropped 'whitewash of justice'
By Jessica Sager | Fox News

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his city's police force Tuesday afternoon, denouncing prosecutors for dropping charges against "Empire" star Jussie Smollett and slamming the episode as a "whitewash of justice."

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Emanuel said they were not only furious with the outcome of Tuesday's surprise hearing but also blindsided by the decision itself, with the officials only learning Smollett wouldn't face charges for allegedly faking a hate crime at the same time the public found out.

"Where is the accountability in the system? You cannot have – because of a person's position – one set of rules applies to them and another set of rules apply to everyone else," Emanuel said. "Our officers did hard work day in and day out, countless hours working to unwind what actually happened that night. The city saw its reputation dragged through the mud...It's not just the officers' work, but the work of the grand jury that made a decision based on only a sliver of the evidence [presented]. Because of the judge's decision, none of that evidence will ever be made public."

Meantime, First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats told reporters he still believed Smollett filed a false police report. He said prosecutors "stand behind the investigation and the facts," adding, "this was not an exoneration."

Emanuel also said: "[This case] sends a clear message that if you're in a position of influence and power you'll be treated one way and if you're not you'll be treated another way."

Jussie Smollett: 'I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one'Video
Johnson blasted the prosecution for not consulting with cops and hinted the episode could further strain the relationship between the department and prosecutors.

"I don't know what's unusual for the state's attorney but we found out about when you all did," Johnson said. "Prosecutors have their discretion of course, we still have to work with the state's attorneys office -- We'll have conversations after this."

But Johnson made sure to add, unequivocally: "At the end of the day it was Smollett who committed this hoax."

Magats later told WLS that Smollett faced accountability by doing community service and forfeiting his $10,000 bond payment. He called it a fair and just outcome.

Chicago police previously accused Smollett of sending himself hate mail to the "Empire" set as well. The FBI had been investigating the letter which reportedly was laced with an innocuous white powder and "MAGA" messages. If convicted of mail fraud, Smollett still could face up to 10 years behind bars.

Earlier Tuesday, the Cook County State Attorney’s office announced that all 16 felony counts against Smollett, 36, were dropped and the record in the case was sealed. Smollett voluntarily forfeited his $10,000 bond and Smollett's attorney, Patricia Brown-Holmes, said the funds would likely go to the city of Chicago.

Brown-Holmes also admonished Chicago cops for asserting at the conclusion of their investigation that Smollett's tale of being attacked by two Trump supporters had been a hoax. She said police needed to "investigate claims" before presuming suspects' guilt and trying them in the press.

Johnson told press in February of the case: "I'm left hanging my head and asking, 'Why?' Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations? How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol...how can an individual who has been embraced by the city of Chicago turn around and slap everyone in this city by making this false claim? Bogus police reports cause real harm."

Smollett has maintained his innocence and previously pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts against him.

Smollett told police he was attacked by two masked men as he was walking home from a Chicago Subway sandwich shop at around 2 a.m on Jan. 29. The actor, who is black and openly gay, said the masked men beat him, made derogatory comments and yelled "This is MAGA country" — an apparent reference to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again" — during an attack that lasted less than a minute.

Police eventually determined the masked men were brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, and the brothers were identified by cops as being the men seen on surveillance video buying the rope that was hung around Smollett's neck during the alleged attack. Johnson told the press at the time that the Osundairo brothers were cooperating with authorities and the investigation was pivoting from a hate crime investigation into a case of false reporting.

Johnson later said on "Good Morning America" that the police department had evidence that hadn't yet been made public that Smollett staged the attack. Johnson told anchor Robin Roberts that he worked "very closely" with the Osundairos' attorney to investigate the matter and that Smollett was initially treated as a victim - not a suspect -- in the case, which quickly gained sustained national attention.

"It's not the Chicago police saying [the attack was staged]," Johnson said at the time. "It's the evidence, the facts and the witnesses that are saying it."

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, who recused herself from Smollett's case, previously asked Johnson to let the FBI investigate Smollett's alleged attack after the former chief of staff to former first lady Michelle Obama reportedly contacted Foxx to inform her that Smollett's family had concerns about the probe.

The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Graham then alleged that Foxx had illegally interfered with the investigation into Smollett's alleged crime. Graham reportedly wrote to the Justice Department to investigate whether Foxx herself broke any laws related to the probe.

Smollett's attorneys previously blasted the Chicago P.D.'s conduct, telling Fox News they've "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 betrayed by a system that apparently wants to skip due process and proceed directly to sentencing.”

Chicago police union wants federal investigation into Kim Foxx's handling of Smollett case
By Dane Placko
Posted Mar 18 2019 07:06PM CDT, Updated Mar 18 2019 09:15PM CDT

CHICAGO (FOX 32) - The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), which represents 8,000 Chicago cops, sent a letter to John Lausch, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, asking for a federal investigation into how Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx handled the Jussie Smollett case.

Before charges were even filed against Smollett, Foxx recused herself from prosecuting the case, but wouldn't say why.

Last week, the Tribune obtained emails showing that while police were still in the middle of their investigation into the alleged hate crime, Foxx was contacted by a politically-connected attorney friendly with Smollett’s family, saying they had "concerns about the investigation."

Foxx then asked Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to end the police investigation and turn it over to the FBI, which never happened. The union believes Foxx may have broken the law when she tried to take the case away from Chicago police.

In the letter to the U.S. attorney, the FOP says: "...attorneys are not allowed to interfere with ongoing police investigations, particularly at the request of private individuals associated with subjects being investigated....(her) whole office should have recused itself and a special prosecutor been appointed."

FOX 32 reached out to a spokesperson for State's Attorney Foxx for comment on the FOP’s request but so far have not received any response.

video at http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/chicago-police-union-wants-federal-investigation-into-kim-foxx-s-handling-of-smollett-case

Well lookey here...???? Presidential candidate “Kamala Harris”?! There was no way this guy was going to jail. This whole situation stinks of collusion. REAL PROVABLE COLLUSION!

Published 53 mins ago
Jussie Smollett loses NAACP award, skips out on awards dinner
By Barnini Chakraborty | Fox News

CHICAGO -- "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, who sparked rumors he would be attending this year's NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, is a loser.

The embattled television star was nominated for best supporting actor in a television drama for his role as Jamal Lyon on the Fox series but was edged out by "Grey's Anatomy" star Jesse Williams, ABC reported.

Smollett has been nominated for the award four years in a row and won in 2017.

The award was handed out during the untelevised portion of the show Friday night.

The televised portion will air Saturday night.

Leading up to the event, NAACP Image Awards host and actor Anthony Anderson said in light of the charges against Smollett being dropped, he hopes the "Empire" actor will win for his work on the show.

“I hope he wins," Anderson told Variety magazine on Wednesday. "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.”

Smollett has been in the middle of a firestorm for weeks in Chicago.

He is accused of staging an anti-gay, racist attack on himself in January in order to promote his career. He has denied the charges from the start and says two men approached him, beat him, threw bleach on him and tied a rope around his neck before shouting, "This is MAGA country," in reference to President Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."

"I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I’m accused of," Smollett said.

Smollett's co-star Taraji P. Henson, who plays his mother on "Empire", told USA Today that she's "happy that the truth has finally been set free, because I knew it all along."

The surprise decision to drop charges on Tuesday, followed by Smollett's claims of innocence, has nonetheless prompted an immediate rebuke from Chicago's mayor and police superintendent.

The decision also put pressure on the state's attorney's office.

On Friday night, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said she is open to an outside investigation into her office’s dramatic decision to dismiss all charges.

Jussie Smollett: City of Chicago to sue actor over alleged attack
3 hours ago | BBC

Jussie Smollett will be sued by the City of Chicago after "refusing to reimburse" the cost of investigating an alleged assault on him in the city.

Prosecutors say a homophobic and racist attack was staged to boost the actor's career, but Smollett has always maintained his innocence.

The 36-year-old was given seven days to pay $130,000 (£99,000) to cover the investigation's cost.

The deadline passed on Thursday and now a civil complaint will be filed.

The City of Chicago's law department said it will "pursue the full measure of damages allowed", adding in a statement that the lawsuit will be filed "in the near future".

After initially being treated as a victim Smollett was accused of staging the attack and became the subject of the police investigation, but the charges against the actor were dropped last week.

Prosecutors say they still believe the Empire star faked the attack.

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says: "At the end of the day, it is Mr Smollett who committed this hoax"

The charges were dropped because Smollett forfeited a $10,000 (£7,600) bond payment and carried out community service, according to Illinois prosecutor Joe Magats.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel called it a "a whitewash of justice" and claimed Smollett had dragged the city's reputation "through the mud".

In the initial letter demanding $130,000, which includes overtime hours police used on the case, the City of Chicago said: "As part of the investigation, Chicago police reviewed video and physical evidence and conducted several interviews, expending resources that could have been used for other investigations.

"Ultimately, the Chicago police investigation revealed that you knowingly filed a false police report and had in fact orchestrated your own attack."

A new Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, was elected on Wednesday and will be sworn in on 20 May.

She told MSNBC following her victory that there needs to be a "much more fulsome explanation" as to why the charges against Smollett were dropped.

"We cannot create the perception that if you're rich or famous or both that you get one set of justice, and for everybody else it's something much harsher," she said.

"That won't do and we need to make sure that we have a criminal justice system that has integrity."