Battyman actor from Empire allegedly gets jumped in Chicago; Update: Arrested for filing fake report
- Thread starter cli-terminator
- Start date
That gump is causing all type of problems for criminal justice reform in Illinois. The white police state wants to keep the repressive policing tactics on black people and are gunning for the newly elected and now embattled Kim Fox. The white fop members feels she is too soft and lenient on crime. It is bigger than that gump Jussie. It is about keeping the police state and current prison industrial politics as is. Those who benefit off of black misery in Chicago and Cook Co. and state as a whole don't want the black misery gravy train to end.
Gump selfishness is toxic to the black community one way or the other. On the real Jussie a real bitch ass n!99@.
Gump selfishness is toxic to the black community one way or the other. On the real Jussie a real bitch ass n!99@.
Birds of a feather...
I hope this is jokes
Jussie Smollett Fights Special Prosecutor Appointment In Criminal Case Over Alleged Attack
July 19, 2019 9:17am
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REX/Shutterstock
A month after an Illinois judge ordered that a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate the handling of Jussie Smollett’s abandoned criminal case, the former Empire actor said Friday he wants that move rendered null and void.
“Jussie Smollett, by his attorneys, Geragos & Geragos, respectfully requests that this Court grant his Motion, vacate the June 21, 2019 Order, and deny the Petition to Appoint a Special Prosecutor,” reads a filing made this morning in Chicago by Smollett and his high-profile legal team (read it here).
Calling the multiple charges case against the actor stemming from his January 29 claims of a racial- and homophobic-fueld attack on the streets of the Windy City “a travesty of justice and an unprecedented deprivation of Mr. Smollett’s constitutional rights,” Friday’s filing basically accuses Judge Michael Toomin of conducting a trial by media in what has been a heavily spotlighted situation from the get go.
To that end, Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian, who are facing their own federal defamation suit from implicated siblings Ola and Abel Osundairo, preemptively want this matter blunted if they can’t get it shut down in a July 26 hearing.
“In the event the Court is not inclined to grant the Motion, Mr. Smollett, by his attorneys, Geragos & Geragos, respectfully requests that the Court modify the June 21, 2019 Order to clarify that the special prosecutor may investigate and prosecute potential misconduct only, and may not further prosecute Mr. Smollett for the charges that were previously brought and dismissed against him,” the 30-page motion and exhibit-thick filing adds.
Friday’s filing lays the whole attack on the Osundairos brothers. The paperwork slams the siblings’ so-called “self-serving statements which resulted in their release from custody with no criminal charges being filed against them, not a single piece of evidence independently corroborates their claim that the attack was a hoax.” Perhaps more compelling, the defense lawyers also cite a possible helper of sorts in an unidentified and previous unmentioned third man, who witnesses supposedly claim was at the early morning scene.
Though Toomin made the ruling last month after determining that State’s Attorney Kim Foxx could not legally appoint her top deputy to handle the Smollett case in her place after she recused herself in late winter, the fact is no special prosecutor has been appointed yet.
On the other hand, as more and more material from the once sealed Smollett case is being made public, the Cook County inspector general’s office is conducting its own investigation over why Foxx’s office dropped all charges against Smollett at an unannounced court hearing in late March. That controversial move came less than three weeks after the Empire actor was charged with 16 felony counts related to making a false police report for allegedly staging the hate-crime attack.
Smollett entered a not guilty plea to the disorderly conduct charges and has maintained his innocence throughout; the scandal cost him his Empire gig after initial strong support from co-creator Lee Daniels and others.
Of course, this looming issue of a potential special prosecutor isn’t the only legal matter on Smollett’s plate. There is the case against his lawyers brought by the Osundairos, whom Chicago police have said admitted they were paid by the actor to plan and coordinate the alleged fake assault on that cold Chicago early morning in January. There is also a case from the city itself. In the closing days of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s regime, Chicago sued Smollett in civil court to recover more than $130,000 it allegedly spent in police overtime hours investigating the case.
Even with a new mayor and more twists and turns, that messy matter is ongoing.
@ViCiouS
July 19, 2019 9:17am
REX/Shutterstock
A month after an Illinois judge ordered that a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate the handling of Jussie Smollett’s abandoned criminal case, the former Empire actor said Friday he wants that move rendered null and void.
“Jussie Smollett, by his attorneys, Geragos & Geragos, respectfully requests that this Court grant his Motion, vacate the June 21, 2019 Order, and deny the Petition to Appoint a Special Prosecutor,” reads a filing made this morning in Chicago by Smollett and his high-profile legal team (read it here).
Calling the multiple charges case against the actor stemming from his January 29 claims of a racial- and homophobic-fueld attack on the streets of the Windy City “a travesty of justice and an unprecedented deprivation of Mr. Smollett’s constitutional rights,” Friday’s filing basically accuses Judge Michael Toomin of conducting a trial by media in what has been a heavily spotlighted situation from the get go.
To that end, Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian, who are facing their own federal defamation suit from implicated siblings Ola and Abel Osundairo, preemptively want this matter blunted if they can’t get it shut down in a July 26 hearing.
“In the event the Court is not inclined to grant the Motion, Mr. Smollett, by his attorneys, Geragos & Geragos, respectfully requests that the Court modify the June 21, 2019 Order to clarify that the special prosecutor may investigate and prosecute potential misconduct only, and may not further prosecute Mr. Smollett for the charges that were previously brought and dismissed against him,” the 30-page motion and exhibit-thick filing adds.
Friday’s filing lays the whole attack on the Osundairos brothers. The paperwork slams the siblings’ so-called “self-serving statements which resulted in their release from custody with no criminal charges being filed against them, not a single piece of evidence independently corroborates their claim that the attack was a hoax.” Perhaps more compelling, the defense lawyers also cite a possible helper of sorts in an unidentified and previous unmentioned third man, who witnesses supposedly claim was at the early morning scene.
Though Toomin made the ruling last month after determining that State’s Attorney Kim Foxx could not legally appoint her top deputy to handle the Smollett case in her place after she recused herself in late winter, the fact is no special prosecutor has been appointed yet.
On the other hand, as more and more material from the once sealed Smollett case is being made public, the Cook County inspector general’s office is conducting its own investigation over why Foxx’s office dropped all charges against Smollett at an unannounced court hearing in late March. That controversial move came less than three weeks after the Empire actor was charged with 16 felony counts related to making a false police report for allegedly staging the hate-crime attack.
Smollett entered a not guilty plea to the disorderly conduct charges and has maintained his innocence throughout; the scandal cost him his Empire gig after initial strong support from co-creator Lee Daniels and others.
Of course, this looming issue of a potential special prosecutor isn’t the only legal matter on Smollett’s plate. There is the case against his lawyers brought by the Osundairos, whom Chicago police have said admitted they were paid by the actor to plan and coordinate the alleged fake assault on that cold Chicago early morning in January. There is also a case from the city itself. In the closing days of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s regime, Chicago sued Smollett in civil court to recover more than $130,000 it allegedly spent in police overtime hours investigating the case.
Even with a new mayor and more twists and turns, that messy matter is ongoing.
@ViCiouS
Jussie Smollett Goes On The Offensive Against Chicago Over Fake Hate Crime
byAllHipHop Staff1 day
The actor is making some moves in court to push back against the city's attempt to sue him.
(AllHipHop News) Jussie Smollett is fighting back against the City of Chicago over their pursuit to charge the actor over allegedly faking a hate crime.
Jussie filed some documents in Cook County claims the city is unjustly prosecuting him after officials revealed a special prosecutor would be re-opening an investigation into the actor.
Jussie claimed two white men supporting President Donald Trump beat him up in January, put a rope around his neck and through bleach all over him.
Jussie Smollett Wants To Battle The Chicago Police In Federal Court - AllHipHop.com
Jussie is adamant he is not going to pay the cops a dime.
allhiphop.com
The cops conducted an investigation found Jussie allegedly paid two Nigerian brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, admitted they were paid by Jussie to orhcestracte the attack.
The city has been trying to recoup $130,000 spent on police overtime to investigate the alleged attack.
byAllHipHop Staff1 day
The actor is making some moves in court to push back against the city's attempt to sue him.
(AllHipHop News) Jussie Smollett is fighting back against the City of Chicago over their pursuit to charge the actor over allegedly faking a hate crime.
Jussie filed some documents in Cook County claims the city is unjustly prosecuting him after officials revealed a special prosecutor would be re-opening an investigation into the actor.
Jussie claimed two white men supporting President Donald Trump beat him up in January, put a rope around his neck and through bleach all over him.
Jussie Smollett Wants To Battle The Chicago Police In Federal Court - AllHipHop.com
Jussie is adamant he is not going to pay the cops a dime.
allhiphop.com
The cops conducted an investigation found Jussie allegedly paid two Nigerian brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, admitted they were paid by Jussie to orhcestracte the attack.
The city has been trying to recoup $130,000 spent on police overtime to investigate the alleged attack.
Jussie Smollett Goes On The Offensive Against Chicago Over Fake Hate Crime
byAllHipHop Staff1 day
The actor is making some moves in court to push back against the city's attempt to sue him.
(AllHipHop News) Jussie Smollett is fighting back against the City of Chicago over their pursuit to charge the actor over allegedly faking a hate crime.
Jussie filed some documents in Cook County claims the city is unjustly prosecuting him after officials revealed a special prosecutor would be re-opening an investigation into the actor.
Jussie claimed two white men supporting President Donald Trump beat him up in January, put a rope around his neck and through bleach all over him.
Jussie Smollett Wants To Battle The Chicago Police In Federal Court - AllHipHop.com
Jussie is adamant he is not going to pay the cops a dime.
allhiphop.com
The cops conducted an investigation found Jussie allegedly paid two Nigerian brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, admitted they were paid by Jussie to orhcestracte the attack.
The city has been trying to recoup $130,000 spent on police overtime to investigate the alleged attack.
@ViCiouS
why can't homeboy let this go?
Jussie Smollett Contemplates Suing the City of Chicago Over His Arrest for Alleged Hoax Attack
Jussie Smollett[/a] for allegedly orchestrating a fake attack against himself and now the "Empire" star is letting it be known he might file a lawsuit of his own.
As part of the status report, Smollett's attorneys state, "Defendant contemplates filing an action against the City of Chicago and/or its agents for their conduct underlying the arrest and their conduct thereafter including constitutional claims and state law claims. Defendant reserves the right to bring such claims at the appropriate time provided by law."
The report also states that both sides feel the earliest they will be ready for trial is June 2020. They estimate the trial would take two or three days to complete.
The two sides also say they have "engaged in settlement discussions, but those discussions are not ongoing."
The City of Chicago is seeking to recoup the costs of the investigation into Smollett's alleged attack.
In the complaint, the city did not mince words in saying Smollett staged the incident.
They wrote, “On January 29, 2019, Defendant submitted a false police report claiming that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic beating by unknown attackers," the lawsuit states. "In reality, Defendant knew his attackers and orchestrated the purported attack himself. Later, when police confronted him with evidence about his attackers, he still refused to disclose his involvement in planning the attack."
Smollett said the lawsuit “appears to be an unprecedented effort to seek penalties and resources expended in connection with allegedly false statements made to the police where the related criminal case concerning the statements was dismissed nolle pros on all counts.”
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jussie-smollett-contemplates-suing-city-141426672.html
Jussie Smollett[/a] for allegedly orchestrating a fake attack against himself and now the "Empire" star is letting it be known he might file a lawsuit of his own.
As part of the status report, Smollett's attorneys state, "Defendant contemplates filing an action against the City of Chicago and/or its agents for their conduct underlying the arrest and their conduct thereafter including constitutional claims and state law claims. Defendant reserves the right to bring such claims at the appropriate time provided by law."
The report also states that both sides feel the earliest they will be ready for trial is June 2020. They estimate the trial would take two or three days to complete.
The two sides also say they have "engaged in settlement discussions, but those discussions are not ongoing."
The City of Chicago is seeking to recoup the costs of the investigation into Smollett's alleged attack.
In the complaint, the city did not mince words in saying Smollett staged the incident.
They wrote, “On January 29, 2019, Defendant submitted a false police report claiming that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic beating by unknown attackers," the lawsuit states. "In reality, Defendant knew his attackers and orchestrated the purported attack himself. Later, when police confronted him with evidence about his attackers, he still refused to disclose his involvement in planning the attack."
Smollett said the lawsuit “appears to be an unprecedented effort to seek penalties and resources expended in connection with allegedly false statements made to the police where the related criminal case concerning the statements was dismissed nolle pros on all counts.”
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jussie-smollett-contemplates-suing-city-141426672.html
Despite Jussie Smollett controversy, Kim Foxx locks up support from Cook County Democrats for her 2020 reelection effort
By JUAN PEREZ JR.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE |
AUG 16, 2019 | 3:46 PM
Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx speaks before Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill to legalize marijuana in Illinois, at the Sankofa Cultural Center in Chicago on June 25, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx won the endorsement of local Democratic Party leaders for the 2020 election on Friday, acquiring resources and support from party loyalists as she faces several challengers and an expected special prosecutor’s investigation.
The nod for Foxx was just one that party leaders gave Friday after two days of meeting with prospective candidates at a South Side union hall to make their endorsements ahead of the March 17, 2020, primary election. Top Democrats also picked a member of the County Board of Review as their choice to replace longtime Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, who announced this week she would not seek reelection.
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Foxx’s endorsement came despite the bizarre case of Jussie Smollett, a television actor who was indicted after an alleged hate crime hoax last year. The ongoing ordeal, which brought Foxx’s office national scrutiny for its controversial decision to drop the charges, is set to be reinvestigated.
Factions of the city’s law enforcement community, led by the Fraternal Order of Police, have heavily criticized Foxx. Her office’s role in the area’s bail reform efforts also is at the center of intense debate.
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Foxx also faces an internal competitor in the coming spring primary, in addition to a group of Republican rivals. Naval reservist William Conway launched a bid to unseat Foxx this month but did not persuade Democratic leaders to stay neutral in the race.
[Most read] Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Bears’ 32-13 preseason loss to the Giants »
Armed with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from unions and corporate luminaries, Foxx urged colleagues to back her candidacy.
“When I ran in 2015, I said that I was running to transform the way the Cook County state’s attorney’s office operated, to focus our attention on violent crime that has been plaguing our county and diverting resources away from minor offenses that could be dealt with outside of the criminal justice system," the former aide to Cook County Board President and party leader Toni Preckwinkle told officials Friday.
“I’m proud to say that I’ve delivered on the things that I said I was going to do,” Foxx said.
Her stated priorities on violent crime still invited questions about how petition circulators should respond to questions about Smollett's case.
“We don’t treat anyone differently, whether you are a celebrity or an average citizen,” Foxx said. “How we disposed of the Smollett case ... was no different than we treated others with a non-violent offense, a class four low-level felony with no criminal background.”
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[Most read] A Chicago cop fatally shot a black teen who he says pointed a gun at him during a foot chase. But no gun was found — until 3 months later. »
Foxx’s office said it had reached an unwritten deal with Smollett’s defense to drop the charges if the “Empire" actor forfeited his $10,000 bond and did community service.
The decision drew swift condemnation. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel described it as a “whitewash of justice."
On Friday, Foxx also stood by her role in overhauling the Cook County court system’s cash bail system.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson have grappled over the practice with Preckwinkle, Chief Judge Timothy Evans and the county’s public defender.
“I think there is a misperception when people are arrested — they are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law,” Foxx said.
[Most read] Jury convicts homeless man who represented himself on charges of killing off-duty Chicago cop in River North earlier this year »
"If you’re dangerous, you should be in jail. You should not be allowed to have a bail. If you are not, we have to put conditions that keep our community safe — but we’re not allowed to violate the constitution in doing so."
Foxx was the only state’s attorney candidate to appear before Democrats’ candidate slating panel. Conway said he was on reserve duty during the slating session in a letter to party leaders.
“As Democrats, our foundational values of fairness, justice, and equality inform our broader outlook on the criminal justice system,” Conway wrote.
“Criminal justice decisions are simply too important to the lives of the victims, the accused, and the people of Cook County to be tainted by political calculation.”
Conway is still off to a solid fundraising start. Conway’s father, William, a co-founder of the massive Carlyle Group investment firm, fed $500,000 into his campaign last week.
[Most read] ‘Why would you just come out shooting?’ Mother of 14-year-old boy killed by Lake County homeowner questions man’s account »
But insiders buzzed Foxx was likely a shoo-in for the endorsement as Democrats began their two-day slating convention this week.
Though she has the party’s support, Republican challengers are lining up against Foxx next year.
Veteran prosecutor Christopher Pfannkuche is back for a rematch after Foxx defeated him in 2016.
“The system is broken,” Pfannkuche said in a statement that announced his candidacy this week.
"I have the experience that will restore the public’s faith and trust in the state’s attorney’s office and make residents feel safe again.”
[Most read] Rain forecast for Sunday morning after weather disrupts first day of Air and Water Show »
Former county judge and prosecutor Patrick O’Brien also filed paperwork last month to challenge Foxx as a Republican.
Meanwhile, a big group of Democrats want to replace Brown, but the party’s official endorsement went to a member of the county’s Board of Review on Friday.
Michael Cabonargi won the party’s support to get out the vote for his campaign after Brown declared that she would not seek reelection after nearly 20 years in office.
Cabonargi was just one of five candidates who cajoled party leaders to back their bids to take over a critical lever of the county’s massive criminal justice system.
State Sen. Iris Martinez, attorney Jacob Meister and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos each asked for the party’s endorsement Friday.
[Most read] Police arrest at least 13 people and seize metal poles, bear spray as right-wing groups and counter-protesters swarm downtown Portland »
Brown’s aspiring successors also include former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, a Preckwinkle critic who lost his seat in the 2016 election.
Boykin said he considered a run for Cook County state’s attorney, but instead opted to push for Brown’s post after the 65-year-old announced she would step down at the end of her term next year.
That sets up months of jockeying for the right to represent Democrats on the ballot in the 2020 election.
Cabonargi held more than $500,000 in his campaign war chest at the end of June. Spyropoulos loaned her own campaign $500,000 in July. State Sen. Iris Martinez’s campaign fund had more than $130,000 in available funds at the end of June.
Spyropoulos and Meister both said they would continue their efforts regardless of the party’s decision. Boykin also suggested he would still run without an official endorsement.
[Most read] Behind Jon Lester and Kris Bryant, the Cubs snap their 4-game skid with a 2-0 win against the Pirates: 'We got it done’ »
“I think that the reality of it is that we have to make our case to the taxpayers of Cook County, why we think we have the vision, the leadership and the ability to be able to make sure that people have access to justice,” he said.
The clerk of the circuit court had a budget of $120 million this year, and authority over approximately 1,400 full-time employees — a miniature army of clerks, assistants, cashiers, programmers and other staffers.
That staff oversees a dead forest of courtroom proceedings records, and collects millions of dollars in fines and fees for the circuit court. The office processes child support, traffic tickets and protection orders. It is also supposed to manage an electronic filing system for civil cases that pour into the system on a daily basis.
By JUAN PEREZ JR.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE |
AUG 16, 2019 | 3:46 PM
Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx speaks before Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill to legalize marijuana in Illinois, at the Sankofa Cultural Center in Chicago on June 25, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx won the endorsement of local Democratic Party leaders for the 2020 election on Friday, acquiring resources and support from party loyalists as she faces several challengers and an expected special prosecutor’s investigation.
The nod for Foxx was just one that party leaders gave Friday after two days of meeting with prospective candidates at a South Side union hall to make their endorsements ahead of the March 17, 2020, primary election. Top Democrats also picked a member of the County Board of Review as their choice to replace longtime Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, who announced this week she would not seek reelection.
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Foxx’s endorsement came despite the bizarre case of Jussie Smollett, a television actor who was indicted after an alleged hate crime hoax last year. The ongoing ordeal, which brought Foxx’s office national scrutiny for its controversial decision to drop the charges, is set to be reinvestigated.
Factions of the city’s law enforcement community, led by the Fraternal Order of Police, have heavily criticized Foxx. Her office’s role in the area’s bail reform efforts also is at the center of intense debate.
PAID POST
Help Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
Find out if your Social Security number is found on any of thousands of Dark Web sites*. Here are three easy ways to protect yourself.
SEE MORE
Sponsored Content by
Foxx also faces an internal competitor in the coming spring primary, in addition to a group of Republican rivals. Naval reservist William Conway launched a bid to unseat Foxx this month but did not persuade Democratic leaders to stay neutral in the race.
[Most read] Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Bears’ 32-13 preseason loss to the Giants »
Armed with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from unions and corporate luminaries, Foxx urged colleagues to back her candidacy.
“When I ran in 2015, I said that I was running to transform the way the Cook County state’s attorney’s office operated, to focus our attention on violent crime that has been plaguing our county and diverting resources away from minor offenses that could be dealt with outside of the criminal justice system," the former aide to Cook County Board President and party leader Toni Preckwinkle told officials Friday.
“I’m proud to say that I’ve delivered on the things that I said I was going to do,” Foxx said.
Her stated priorities on violent crime still invited questions about how petition circulators should respond to questions about Smollett's case.
“We don’t treat anyone differently, whether you are a celebrity or an average citizen,” Foxx said. “How we disposed of the Smollett case ... was no different than we treated others with a non-violent offense, a class four low-level felony with no criminal background.”
inRead invented by Teads
ADVERTISEMENT
[Most read] A Chicago cop fatally shot a black teen who he says pointed a gun at him during a foot chase. But no gun was found — until 3 months later. »
Foxx’s office said it had reached an unwritten deal with Smollett’s defense to drop the charges if the “Empire" actor forfeited his $10,000 bond and did community service.
The decision drew swift condemnation. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel described it as a “whitewash of justice."
On Friday, Foxx also stood by her role in overhauling the Cook County court system’s cash bail system.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson have grappled over the practice with Preckwinkle, Chief Judge Timothy Evans and the county’s public defender.
“I think there is a misperception when people are arrested — they are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law,” Foxx said.
[Most read] Jury convicts homeless man who represented himself on charges of killing off-duty Chicago cop in River North earlier this year »
"If you’re dangerous, you should be in jail. You should not be allowed to have a bail. If you are not, we have to put conditions that keep our community safe — but we’re not allowed to violate the constitution in doing so."
Foxx was the only state’s attorney candidate to appear before Democrats’ candidate slating panel. Conway said he was on reserve duty during the slating session in a letter to party leaders.
“As Democrats, our foundational values of fairness, justice, and equality inform our broader outlook on the criminal justice system,” Conway wrote.
“Criminal justice decisions are simply too important to the lives of the victims, the accused, and the people of Cook County to be tainted by political calculation.”
Conway is still off to a solid fundraising start. Conway’s father, William, a co-founder of the massive Carlyle Group investment firm, fed $500,000 into his campaign last week.
[Most read] ‘Why would you just come out shooting?’ Mother of 14-year-old boy killed by Lake County homeowner questions man’s account »
But insiders buzzed Foxx was likely a shoo-in for the endorsement as Democrats began their two-day slating convention this week.
Though she has the party’s support, Republican challengers are lining up against Foxx next year.
Veteran prosecutor Christopher Pfannkuche is back for a rematch after Foxx defeated him in 2016.
“The system is broken,” Pfannkuche said in a statement that announced his candidacy this week.
"I have the experience that will restore the public’s faith and trust in the state’s attorney’s office and make residents feel safe again.”
[Most read] Rain forecast for Sunday morning after weather disrupts first day of Air and Water Show »
Former county judge and prosecutor Patrick O’Brien also filed paperwork last month to challenge Foxx as a Republican.
Meanwhile, a big group of Democrats want to replace Brown, but the party’s official endorsement went to a member of the county’s Board of Review on Friday.
Michael Cabonargi won the party’s support to get out the vote for his campaign after Brown declared that she would not seek reelection after nearly 20 years in office.
Cabonargi was just one of five candidates who cajoled party leaders to back their bids to take over a critical lever of the county’s massive criminal justice system.
State Sen. Iris Martinez, attorney Jacob Meister and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos each asked for the party’s endorsement Friday.
[Most read] Police arrest at least 13 people and seize metal poles, bear spray as right-wing groups and counter-protesters swarm downtown Portland »
Brown’s aspiring successors also include former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, a Preckwinkle critic who lost his seat in the 2016 election.
Boykin said he considered a run for Cook County state’s attorney, but instead opted to push for Brown’s post after the 65-year-old announced she would step down at the end of her term next year.
That sets up months of jockeying for the right to represent Democrats on the ballot in the 2020 election.
Cabonargi held more than $500,000 in his campaign war chest at the end of June. Spyropoulos loaned her own campaign $500,000 in July. State Sen. Iris Martinez’s campaign fund had more than $130,000 in available funds at the end of June.
Spyropoulos and Meister both said they would continue their efforts regardless of the party’s decision. Boykin also suggested he would still run without an official endorsement.
[Most read] Behind Jon Lester and Kris Bryant, the Cubs snap their 4-game skid with a 2-0 win against the Pirates: 'We got it done’ »
“I think that the reality of it is that we have to make our case to the taxpayers of Cook County, why we think we have the vision, the leadership and the ability to be able to make sure that people have access to justice,” he said.
The clerk of the circuit court had a budget of $120 million this year, and authority over approximately 1,400 full-time employees — a miniature army of clerks, assistants, cashiers, programmers and other staffers.
That staff oversees a dead forest of courtroom proceedings records, and collects millions of dollars in fines and fees for the circuit court. The office processes child support, traffic tickets and protection orders. It is also supposed to manage an electronic filing system for civil cases that pour into the system on a daily basis.
I will say this,while he's a fucking idiot for lying about getting jumped. I find it funny,how white people are killing him yet quiet as a mouse when one of their own lie just so the police can kill a black person....
I will say this,while he's a fucking idiot for lying about getting jumped. I find it funny,how white people are killing him yet quiet as a mouse when one of their own lie just so the police can kill a black person....
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Here's How Empire Will Explain Jamal's Absence in Final Season
By Michael Ausiello / August 29 2019, 12:20 PM PDT
Courtesy of Fox
RELATED STORIES
There’s an extended honeymoon and then there’s a permanent honeymoon.
Amid official word that embattled Empire star Jussie Smollett will not be returning for the Fox’s drama’s sixth and final season, it appears newlyweds Jamal and Kai will be enjoying the latter.
Speaking to TVLine ahead of the Fox drama’s Sept. 24 premiere, Empire showrunner Brett Mahoney says the happy couple will opt to remain happy — and that means keeping their distance from Lucious, Cookie and Co. “Jamal is taking a sabbatical from the family,” the EP reveals. “He doesn’t want to be caught up in Lyon family drama, which is very much in keeping with his point of view last season — that [the family business] should be something that the family moves away from.”
As a result, Mahoney says, “Jamal and Kai have decided to stay in London.”
Fox last May left the door to Smollett’s return slightly ajar when the network announced that it had extended the actor’s contract through Season 6. Shortly thereafter, series co-creator Lee Daniels slammed that door shut, tweeting emphatically that “Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire.” And earlier this month, Fox CEO Charlie Collier confirmed that there are “no plans for Jussie to return to Empire.”
Smollett, who played Lucious’ musician son since Empire debuted in 2015, was written out of the final episodes of Season 5 following a headline-grabbing brush with the law. The actor claimed he was beaten up by two men wearing “MAGA” hats who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, and then was accused of fabricating the attack and charged with making a false police report. The charges were later dropped, a move that sparked its own fair share of controversy.
By Michael Ausiello / August 29 2019, 12:20 PM PDT
Courtesy of Fox
RELATED STORIES
- Jussie Smollett's Empire Future Confirmed: Embattled Actor Will Not Return for Final Season, Says Fox
- Jussie Smollett Not Returning to Empire, Lee Daniels Confirms
There’s an extended honeymoon and then there’s a permanent honeymoon.
Amid official word that embattled Empire star Jussie Smollett will not be returning for the Fox’s drama’s sixth and final season, it appears newlyweds Jamal and Kai will be enjoying the latter.
Speaking to TVLine ahead of the Fox drama’s Sept. 24 premiere, Empire showrunner Brett Mahoney says the happy couple will opt to remain happy — and that means keeping their distance from Lucious, Cookie and Co. “Jamal is taking a sabbatical from the family,” the EP reveals. “He doesn’t want to be caught up in Lyon family drama, which is very much in keeping with his point of view last season — that [the family business] should be something that the family moves away from.”
As a result, Mahoney says, “Jamal and Kai have decided to stay in London.”
Fox last May left the door to Smollett’s return slightly ajar when the network announced that it had extended the actor’s contract through Season 6. Shortly thereafter, series co-creator Lee Daniels slammed that door shut, tweeting emphatically that “Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire.” And earlier this month, Fox CEO Charlie Collier confirmed that there are “no plans for Jussie to return to Empire.”
Smollett, who played Lucious’ musician son since Empire debuted in 2015, was written out of the final episodes of Season 5 following a headline-grabbing brush with the law. The actor claimed he was beaten up by two men wearing “MAGA” hats who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, and then was accused of fabricating the attack and charged with making a false police report. The charges were later dropped, a move that sparked its own fair share of controversy.
Empire showrunner on the bloody final season premiere: 'He looks pretty dead'
By Derek Lawrence
September 24, 2019 at 10:00 PM EDT
FBTwitter
CHUCK HODES/FOX
Fall TV
Empire
TYPE
GENRE
The king is dead… maybe.
Empire’s final season premiere opened with Lucious (Terrence Howard) being shot and ended with the Lyon patriarch seemingly taking his last breath. But there’s still plenty of time to spend with him given that, like last season’s coffin mystery, the shooting goes down in a flash-forward. In between the glimpses of Lucious’ grim future, the season 6 premiere also featured the reveal of the fugitive’s new look and plan to to get closer to Damon (Wood Harris), as well as Andre’s (Trai Byers) deadly hands-on approach to being Empire CEO, Kingsley’s (A.Z. Kelsey) ghost, and Teri’s (Meta Golding) pregnancy complications.
To dive into the episode, EW chatted with showrunner Brett Mahoney about everything from Lucious’ fate to Lucious’ hair.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s start with a really easy one: Is Lucious dead?
BRETT MAHONEY: [Laughs] He looks pretty dead.
How far down the road is that flash-forward? Is it from the series finale?
That is from nine months forward, which will be the series finale. But I can tell you that you will know who is holding that gun in [episode 11].
You say we’ll know the shooter by the 11th episode, but how much of this flash-forward will we see unfold as the season goes on?
We will see quite a bit. I think the contrast between the coffin last season and this flash-forward is there’s a lot more twists and turns and drama that I think will shock people. And you don’t necessarily have to wait as long for the answers.
Like you mentioned, you did the coffin flash-forward last year, so what was it that appealed to you about doing a different version of that device here?
I started to play with the shock and awe of it all, and it’s an interesting way to unravel the story. And I think seeing that flash-forward kind of informs everything in each episode as we go along. In addition to it, it’s also a way that we’re going to be able to speculate on who is holding that gun, and we’re going to play with seeing a lot of people that have been villains in past seasons with the speculation that they could be holding that weapon.
We see Lucious back, but what has he been up to the in the six months since the season 5 finale? Has it mainly been working on Damon’s daughter?
What he’s been doing is trying to find a way to get back to his life, so he’s trying to find a way to exonerate himself and get the feds off his back, and hopefully, in his mind, possibly refocus things back towards Damon.
More importantly, please talk to us about Lucious’ new undercover look. It’s pretty wild. What was the thinking there?
[Laughs] I think you’d have to talk to Terrence. We had an idea for what his look might be, but then no one really tells Terrence Howard what his look might be. So I think he’s had some creative input into what that look is.
CHUCK HODES/FOX
Things take a turn toward the end, but for much of the episode Andre is finally flourishing. Was it nice to see that for once, even if it will be short-lived?
Yeah, totally. And there’s more this season where we’re actually seeing a different phase of Andre, because for the first time he is sitting on the throne, so what does that mean to him? And yet, his wife and child are in jeopardy, but who knows what happens to them?
You have this scene where Lucious tells Andre he raised him as a prince but he now needs to become a king. And we see maybe a little bit of that when he does what he has to do with Mouse. Will this transformation to a king make him more and more like his father?
I think that’s exactly the struggle for Andre this season. It’s funny because I was just on the phone discussing it with Trai. It’s really sort of a question for all the Lyons as we move through this season. What we have is each of the Lyons asking and answering, “What is more important: love and family or Empire and success and legacy?” And those are things battling each other out, and that’s something Andre will have to answer for his character.
I knew something was up when I saw A.Z. Kelsey’s name in the opening credits — I was like, “Uh oh, what’s going on here?” And then we get a brief glimpse of Kingsley after Andre kills Mouse. Is this another Ghost Rhonda situation? What can you say about Kingsley’s presence? I mean, we know he almost lives inside of Andre via his heart.
Exactly. Kingsley’s heart is literally beating inside Andre. And I think in any situation like that, there’s a certain amount of survivor’s guilt that Andre has and the fact that Kingsley had to die to be able to make him live, and that may create a situation in his psyche where Kingsley might take that space and influence him in a certain way.
Kingsley is also causing other problems for Andre, with Tracy now as a part of the company thanks to Cookie trading shares for Kingsley’s heart. What obstacles will she present?
It means, as long as Andre is sitting on the throne, he’s got to sort of manage Tracy, and if Lucious returns, that’s another thing he has to manage and deal with. It’s sort of like Tracy represents dealing with the history and past sins.
While Lucious is trying take down Damon, Cookie confronts him and says, “You owe me, bitch!” What can you say about what’s going on there between Cookie and Damon?
It’s like Cookie, Lucious, and Damon are caught in this very vicious, violent triangle with these alternating wants, needs, and desires. Cookie has separated herself from Damon and is trying to live her best life and establish herself apart from all of this, but then of course you can never really escape Empire and the Lyons. So now she’s forced to confront Damon once again for the Lyons, for Empire, for Lucious — but also for herself. Because she’s got some questions for Damon. Last season, Damon and Cookie did have a real connection; besides the fact that she didn’t want it to get any further, he was there for her and helped her get through Andre’s illness. So the fact when things got hard for him that he just turned on the Lyons family and sicced the feds on them, Cookie feels betrayed, so she’s got a beef with Damon.
You’ve given us a bit of what we should expect moving forward, but what would be your tease for the next few episodes?
Since we were told this is the last season, we really just wanted to end in a big way all the character arcs and questions that were raised in the first season. So each episode is an event, and I think for people who are fans of the show, especially that first season, we have a lot of great Easter eggs and really satisfying closure for a lot of characters.
By Derek Lawrence
September 24, 2019 at 10:00 PM EDT
FBTwitter
CHUCK HODES/FOX
Fall TV
Empire
TYPE
- TV Show
GENRE
The king is dead… maybe.
Empire’s final season premiere opened with Lucious (Terrence Howard) being shot and ended with the Lyon patriarch seemingly taking his last breath. But there’s still plenty of time to spend with him given that, like last season’s coffin mystery, the shooting goes down in a flash-forward. In between the glimpses of Lucious’ grim future, the season 6 premiere also featured the reveal of the fugitive’s new look and plan to to get closer to Damon (Wood Harris), as well as Andre’s (Trai Byers) deadly hands-on approach to being Empire CEO, Kingsley’s (A.Z. Kelsey) ghost, and Teri’s (Meta Golding) pregnancy complications.
To dive into the episode, EW chatted with showrunner Brett Mahoney about everything from Lucious’ fate to Lucious’ hair.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s start with a really easy one: Is Lucious dead?
BRETT MAHONEY: [Laughs] He looks pretty dead.
How far down the road is that flash-forward? Is it from the series finale?
That is from nine months forward, which will be the series finale. But I can tell you that you will know who is holding that gun in [episode 11].
You say we’ll know the shooter by the 11th episode, but how much of this flash-forward will we see unfold as the season goes on?
We will see quite a bit. I think the contrast between the coffin last season and this flash-forward is there’s a lot more twists and turns and drama that I think will shock people. And you don’t necessarily have to wait as long for the answers.
Like you mentioned, you did the coffin flash-forward last year, so what was it that appealed to you about doing a different version of that device here?
I started to play with the shock and awe of it all, and it’s an interesting way to unravel the story. And I think seeing that flash-forward kind of informs everything in each episode as we go along. In addition to it, it’s also a way that we’re going to be able to speculate on who is holding that gun, and we’re going to play with seeing a lot of people that have been villains in past seasons with the speculation that they could be holding that weapon.
We see Lucious back, but what has he been up to the in the six months since the season 5 finale? Has it mainly been working on Damon’s daughter?
What he’s been doing is trying to find a way to get back to his life, so he’s trying to find a way to exonerate himself and get the feds off his back, and hopefully, in his mind, possibly refocus things back towards Damon.
More importantly, please talk to us about Lucious’ new undercover look. It’s pretty wild. What was the thinking there?
[Laughs] I think you’d have to talk to Terrence. We had an idea for what his look might be, but then no one really tells Terrence Howard what his look might be. So I think he’s had some creative input into what that look is.
CHUCK HODES/FOX
Things take a turn toward the end, but for much of the episode Andre is finally flourishing. Was it nice to see that for once, even if it will be short-lived?
Yeah, totally. And there’s more this season where we’re actually seeing a different phase of Andre, because for the first time he is sitting on the throne, so what does that mean to him? And yet, his wife and child are in jeopardy, but who knows what happens to them?
You have this scene where Lucious tells Andre he raised him as a prince but he now needs to become a king. And we see maybe a little bit of that when he does what he has to do with Mouse. Will this transformation to a king make him more and more like his father?
I think that’s exactly the struggle for Andre this season. It’s funny because I was just on the phone discussing it with Trai. It’s really sort of a question for all the Lyons as we move through this season. What we have is each of the Lyons asking and answering, “What is more important: love and family or Empire and success and legacy?” And those are things battling each other out, and that’s something Andre will have to answer for his character.
I knew something was up when I saw A.Z. Kelsey’s name in the opening credits — I was like, “Uh oh, what’s going on here?” And then we get a brief glimpse of Kingsley after Andre kills Mouse. Is this another Ghost Rhonda situation? What can you say about Kingsley’s presence? I mean, we know he almost lives inside of Andre via his heart.
Exactly. Kingsley’s heart is literally beating inside Andre. And I think in any situation like that, there’s a certain amount of survivor’s guilt that Andre has and the fact that Kingsley had to die to be able to make him live, and that may create a situation in his psyche where Kingsley might take that space and influence him in a certain way.
Kingsley is also causing other problems for Andre, with Tracy now as a part of the company thanks to Cookie trading shares for Kingsley’s heart. What obstacles will she present?
It means, as long as Andre is sitting on the throne, he’s got to sort of manage Tracy, and if Lucious returns, that’s another thing he has to manage and deal with. It’s sort of like Tracy represents dealing with the history and past sins.
While Lucious is trying take down Damon, Cookie confronts him and says, “You owe me, bitch!” What can you say about what’s going on there between Cookie and Damon?
It’s like Cookie, Lucious, and Damon are caught in this very vicious, violent triangle with these alternating wants, needs, and desires. Cookie has separated herself from Damon and is trying to live her best life and establish herself apart from all of this, but then of course you can never really escape Empire and the Lyons. So now she’s forced to confront Damon once again for the Lyons, for Empire, for Lucious — but also for herself. Because she’s got some questions for Damon. Last season, Damon and Cookie did have a real connection; besides the fact that she didn’t want it to get any further, he was there for her and helped her get through Andre’s illness. So the fact when things got hard for him that he just turned on the Lyons family and sicced the feds on them, Cookie feels betrayed, so she’s got a beef with Damon.
You’ve given us a bit of what we should expect moving forward, but what would be your tease for the next few episodes?
Since we were told this is the last season, we really just wanted to end in a big way all the character arcs and questions that were raised in the first season. So each episode is an event, and I think for people who are fans of the show, especially that first season, we have a lot of great Easter eggs and really satisfying closure for a lot of characters.
Empire Returned Last Night Without Jussie Smollett. Here’s How They Wrote Him Off.
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
Photo: Fox
While the foreign narrative surrounding Jussie Smollett’s departure from Empire had already been teased to viewers, on Tuesday night, we finally got confirmation about what the hell is going on in Jamal’s life. (As for Smollett’s life? Well, that’s another story entirely.) As was very briefly mentioned during the show’s season premiere, Jamal and his fiancé decided to move to London to escape the Lyon family’s near-constant petty drama, in the hopes of restarting their lives with the help of Pimm’s and a pledge of allegiance to Arsenal. Brexit be damned! Jamal’s mother, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) is the relayer of such intel, telling a pal the details during a night-in of pampering. “No wonder that boy ran off to London,” Cookie joked, gesturing to her pink onesie. “Please don’t get me started. I miss him so much.” Smollett is still lying low after the criminal charges against him, for allegedly staging a hate crime, were dropped.
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
Photo: Fox
While the foreign narrative surrounding Jussie Smollett’s departure from Empire had already been teased to viewers, on Tuesday night, we finally got confirmation about what the hell is going on in Jamal’s life. (As for Smollett’s life? Well, that’s another story entirely.) As was very briefly mentioned during the show’s season premiere, Jamal and his fiancé decided to move to London to escape the Lyon family’s near-constant petty drama, in the hopes of restarting their lives with the help of Pimm’s and a pledge of allegiance to Arsenal. Brexit be damned! Jamal’s mother, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) is the relayer of such intel, telling a pal the details during a night-in of pampering. “No wonder that boy ran off to London,” Cookie joked, gesturing to her pink onesie. “Please don’t get me started. I miss him so much.” Smollett is still lying low after the criminal charges against him, for allegedly staging a hate crime, were dropped.
The Most Shocking Revelations From the Unsealed Jussie Smollett Court Docs
By Natalie Hope McDonald
Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Almost 500 pages of legal docs were released in the Jussie Smollett case, inspiring more questions about why Chicago prosecutors decided to drop all 16 charges against the former Empire actor just days after he was indicted for allegedly faking a hate crime. The docs, which had originally been sealed, contradict what the police initially said was the motive for the crime — that Smollett was dissatisfied with his salary on the hit Fox show. The city has since sued Smollett for more than $130,000 to cover investigation costs.
Here are some shockers from the court documents:
• Smollett’s full list of injuries were documented as abrasions to the right and left cheeks on his face; redness to his neck; soreness in his back, shoulder, and ribs; and an unspecified injury to his lower lip.
• The police note that Smollett had changed his story about what allegedly happened on the night of January 29. According to notes dated February 14, Smollett described one alleged attacker as “pale” and wearing a mask. Previously, he told police that the attacker was white. When Smollett was shown photos of two brothers police had picked up for the attack, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, Smollett denied that they were the attackers because they were “black as sin.”
• The Osundairo brothers, who testified to helping Smollett stage the alleged attack, said that the actor was unhappy with how the studio handled his alleged “hate” letter. Earlier this year, Smollett said he received a letter that contained white powder that was mailed to the studio in which Empire filmed.
According to the brothers, Smollett offered to pay them $3,500 plus another $500 to stage the alleged hate crime. They also told investigators that Smollett asked that only one of the brothers do the physical assault as he didn’t trust the other to “pull his punches.” The brother who allegedly hit Smollett told police that he punched the actor in the body while “being careful” not to do much damage. At one point, Smollett allegedly punched back after he was thrown to the ground, the brothers testified. The other brother who didn’t do the actual punching said he “began rubbing his knuckles into Smollett’s face trying to bruise him without hurting him badly.”
• The documents also show that Smollett took investigators on a walk-through of the supposed crime scene. At one point, police asked Smollett why his sweater didn’t get soiled when he was on the ground, and he said it was because he fell on ice and snow.
• Investigators also made note that Smollett refused to sign a medical release or turn his phone over to police after reporting the crime. He was also reluctant to do a swab test for DNA on the rope.
• The brothers testified that they left the clothes they wore during the alleged attack in Nigeria, their native country, which they both traveled to soon after the incident. They also said they filled an empty bottle of El Yucateco hot sauce with bleach and used clothesline for rope during the alleged attack. Smollett had initially told investigators that the attackers tied a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him while shouting racist and homophobic slurs and championing “MAGA country.”
• The documents chronicle texts dating back many months before the incident that show conversations between Smollett and the brothers, including one in which Smollett was allegedly trying to buy drugs from one of the men, including “weed, molly or Whitney,” a slang for cocaine. According to the documents, Smollett used Venmo to pay for drugs.
• In fact, the reports document “multiple occasions” in which Smollett used the online payment app to pay for “illicit activity” couched as “payment for legitimate expenses.” One example comes from September 2018 in which police accuse Smollett of purchasing ecstasy from one of the brothers and listing it on Venmo as payment for “training.”
Stay tuned because this month we expect to see even more evidence from the case, including video surveillance from the Chicago neighborhood where the incident allegedly occurred.
By Natalie Hope McDonald
Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Almost 500 pages of legal docs were released in the Jussie Smollett case, inspiring more questions about why Chicago prosecutors decided to drop all 16 charges against the former Empire actor just days after he was indicted for allegedly faking a hate crime. The docs, which had originally been sealed, contradict what the police initially said was the motive for the crime — that Smollett was dissatisfied with his salary on the hit Fox show. The city has since sued Smollett for more than $130,000 to cover investigation costs.
Here are some shockers from the court documents:
• Smollett’s full list of injuries were documented as abrasions to the right and left cheeks on his face; redness to his neck; soreness in his back, shoulder, and ribs; and an unspecified injury to his lower lip.
• The police note that Smollett had changed his story about what allegedly happened on the night of January 29. According to notes dated February 14, Smollett described one alleged attacker as “pale” and wearing a mask. Previously, he told police that the attacker was white. When Smollett was shown photos of two brothers police had picked up for the attack, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, Smollett denied that they were the attackers because they were “black as sin.”
• The Osundairo brothers, who testified to helping Smollett stage the alleged attack, said that the actor was unhappy with how the studio handled his alleged “hate” letter. Earlier this year, Smollett said he received a letter that contained white powder that was mailed to the studio in which Empire filmed.
According to the brothers, Smollett offered to pay them $3,500 plus another $500 to stage the alleged hate crime. They also told investigators that Smollett asked that only one of the brothers do the physical assault as he didn’t trust the other to “pull his punches.” The brother who allegedly hit Smollett told police that he punched the actor in the body while “being careful” not to do much damage. At one point, Smollett allegedly punched back after he was thrown to the ground, the brothers testified. The other brother who didn’t do the actual punching said he “began rubbing his knuckles into Smollett’s face trying to bruise him without hurting him badly.”
• The documents also show that Smollett took investigators on a walk-through of the supposed crime scene. At one point, police asked Smollett why his sweater didn’t get soiled when he was on the ground, and he said it was because he fell on ice and snow.
• Investigators also made note that Smollett refused to sign a medical release or turn his phone over to police after reporting the crime. He was also reluctant to do a swab test for DNA on the rope.
• The brothers testified that they left the clothes they wore during the alleged attack in Nigeria, their native country, which they both traveled to soon after the incident. They also said they filled an empty bottle of El Yucateco hot sauce with bleach and used clothesline for rope during the alleged attack. Smollett had initially told investigators that the attackers tied a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him while shouting racist and homophobic slurs and championing “MAGA country.”
• The documents chronicle texts dating back many months before the incident that show conversations between Smollett and the brothers, including one in which Smollett was allegedly trying to buy drugs from one of the men, including “weed, molly or Whitney,” a slang for cocaine. According to the documents, Smollett used Venmo to pay for drugs.
• In fact, the reports document “multiple occasions” in which Smollett used the online payment app to pay for “illicit activity” couched as “payment for legitimate expenses.” One example comes from September 2018 in which police accuse Smollett of purchasing ecstasy from one of the brothers and listing it on Venmo as payment for “training.”
Stay tuned because this month we expect to see even more evidence from the case, including video surveillance from the Chicago neighborhood where the incident allegedly occurred.
Embattled Illinois prosecutor Kim Foxx announces bid for re-election
Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx announced her bid for re-election Tuesday with a commercial where she admits on the Jussie Smollett case: 'I didn't handle it well. I own that.'
Embattled Illinois prosecutor Kim Foxx announces bid for re-election
Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx announced her bid for re-election Tuesday with a commercial where she admits on the Jussie Smollett case: 'I didn't handle it well. I own that.'www.dailymail.co.uk
I’m not mad. Take your ‘L’ and keep it moving. Best of luck to you.
No matter,how many times I see this clip. It always make me laught hard..
Jussie Smollett Is Suing the City of Chicago
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
Jussie Smollett Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo
/Getty Images
Jussie Smollett, the embattled former Empire actor who had criminal charges dropped against him earlier this year for allegedly staging a crime against himself, is now suing the city of Chicago for malicious prosecution. Per the Chicago Sun-Times, Smollett is claiming that the city, as well as multiple police officers, caused him substantial “economic harm, humiliation, mental anguish, and extreme emotional distress” in the weeks following the alleged racist and homophobic attack against him. The suit, which is a counterclaim (the city is currently suing Smollett for $130,000 worth of court costs and police overtime fees), also alleges that the testimonies of the Osundairo brothers, key witnesses in the case, were “false, self-serving, and unreliable statements in order to close the investigation into the attack on Mr. Smollett.”
Smollett’s counterclaim comes months after the Cook County state attorney’s office (which represents Chicago) dropped all criminal charges against him. The state attorney who oversaw Smollett’s case said that she chose to drop it due to the actor already serving an adequate amount of community service. “Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th,” his attorneys said in a statement at the time. “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.” However, in the months since, an Illinois judge has approved the appointment of a special prosecutor to reexamine the case and determine if the initial investigation was “compromised, impeded or undermined” by the actions of the state’s attorney’s office.
@ViCiouS
Osundairo Brothers 'Praying for Jussie' to 'Finally Tell the Truth'
Jussie Smollett's alleged accomplices in staging a hate crime are speaking on camera for the first time since Jussie was hit with felony charges again ... and they're practically pleading for him to come clean.
www.tmz.com
@ViCiouS
All Your Questions About Jussie Smollett’s Indictment, Answered
By Natalie Hope McDonald
Jussie Smollett. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Just when it looked as though former Empire star Jussie Smollett may have dodged the criminal charges that were filed last year and later dropped in the controversial case in which he allegedly faked an assault, he’s back in court again. This time, a Chicago grand jury indicted Smollett on six new charges as of Tuesday, which, according to court documents, allege that the actor “planned and participated” in staging a hate crime against himself.
It all started after midnight on January 29, 2019, the night Smollett says he was attacked on a Chicago street. The then-36-year-old told police that he was beaten outside of the Loews Hotel by two white men in ski masks who yelled racist and homophobic slurs, and championed “MAGA country,” as they tied a rope around his neck and poured bleach on him.
Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the Chicago police immediately began investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. They even tied a threatening letter that was reportedly sent to the actor prior to the alleged attack to the investigation. It contained anti-gay rhetoric and a mysterious white powder.
As news broke of what many were calling a shocking hate crime, many celebrities and politicians rallied behind the openly gay actor, both in the press and on social media. Former presidential candidate Kamala Harris even called the incident a “modern-day lynching,” while Smollett appeared on a television interview on ABC with Robin Roberts, where he reiterated that what he told police was unequivocally true.
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It wasn’t until February 2019, when investigators uncovered a blurry video of two men walking near the supposed crime scene that the case took a very unexpected turn, one that would eventually cast suspicion on the actor himself. By February 20, a Cook County, Illinois, grand jury found probable cause that Smollett staged the attack. The young actor was arrested, charged with felony disorderly conduct, and released on bond shortly before being written off the hit show Empire. Smollett was also slapped with 16 more felony counts after allegedly lying to police about the alleged hate crime.
But then on March 26, 2019, prosecutors in the case abruptly dropped all charges against the actor, leading to a lot of questions and prompting a new investigation that took a sharp turn this week when Smollett was indicted for a second time.
Below, we’ve answered some of the biggest questions about why the case was reopened and whether Smollett could actually face jail time if convicted.
What is Smollett charged with now?
The actor is facing six new criminal charges, including that he planned and participated in the staging of a hate crime and made four separate false reports to the Chicago Police Department.
Who opened the new case and why?
Special prosecutor Dan K. Webb, who had been investigating the case for months, helped bring the new charges in Cook County after taking over from the former state’s attorney Kim Foxx who dropped the charges against Smollett last year. Her controversial decision shocked many and led to an unprecedented press conference by the Chicago Police Department in which it blasted the decision. Webb said that he’s pursuing the case against Smollett because “reasonable grounds exist to further prosecute the actor.”
What could happen next?
With new criminal charges filed against Smollett, he will likely face a trial in Cook County unless he and his attorneys somehow make a deal with the prosecutors. At this time, there’s no evidence to suggest that the district attorney would even accept a deal, especially given the high-profile nature of the case.
Some big questions to consider if there is a criminal trial is how and where Smollett would be able to get a fair trial (this will likely become a major talking point for the actor’s legal team), what evidence would be submitted (is there a video of the alleged attack?), and who ultimately would take the stand (two brothers testified to a grand jury last year that Smollett hired them to stage the attack, and there is video of the men buying supplies that were allegedly used in the alleged attack).
In addition to the criminal charges, Smollett also faces a lawsuit from the City of Chicago to recover the costs of investigating “Mr. Smollett’s false statements,” according to TMZ. The actor has also since made a counterclaim against the city that is still pending.
He’s scheduled to appear in court on February 24.
Could Smollett end up in jail?
Yes. The charge for filing a false police report is a felony in Illinois. Technically, it’s considered a Class 4 felony, the least serious of all possible felony charges, but it still carries a sentence ranging from one to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
If found guilty in a criminal trial, the actor could also be forced to pay restitution for the cost of the investigation, which, given the high-profile nature of the case, could be substantial.
Depending on what happens next, prosecutors could even add an obstruction-of-justice charge, which basically suggests that Smollett “knowingly” resisted or obstructed the work of an investigator (this charge also carries jail time).
How has Smollett reacted to the new charges?
The actor’s legal team released a statement that says, in part: “This indictment raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation that led to the renewed charges against Mr. Smollett … The attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State’s Attorney election is clearly all about politics and not justice.”
So why were the first set of charges against Smollett dropped last year?
All of the criminal charges against the actor were dropped as of March 26, 2019 by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. While the prosecutors did not reveal why exactly they dropped the felony charges, they said the decision was made after reviewing all of the facts in light of Smollett’s forfeiture of his $10,000 bond. Usually when charges are dropped, the bond is returned to the defendant; in this case, Smollett agreed to give the bond he paid to the city, which is unusual in a case like this.
“After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case,” the state’s attorney’s office said in a statement at the time, “ 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.”
As a result, Smollett did not face trial and had his record expunged.
Weren’t there 16 different charges added to his initial charges last year?
Yes. On March 8, 2019, Smollett was charged with 16 additional felony counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. The grand jury specifically returned two separate sets of charges related to the actor’s allegations that his supposed attackers called him racist and homophobic slurs, used a noose, and poured a chemical on him. His testimony to police immediately after the incident, as well as his second interview with police, had both contributed to the last grand jury decision in 2019, the prosecutors said.
But all 16 of the additional charges were dropped as well on March 26, 2019. Smollett’s attorneys had also requested and were granted that the records be sealed.
What happened to the video evidence mentioned in the initial complaint?
Any and all evidence in this case would have been considered by the prosecutors and may have also led to the new charges being filed. At this time, it’s unclear whether any alleged video of the alleged attack exists or what evidence could or will be used in a criminal trial.
Did leaks and press appearances by the Chicago Police contribute to the decision to drop charges the first time around?
It probably didn’t help. From the start, Smollett’s attorneys argued that the police overstepped when they initially held a press conference calling Smollett a criminal. His attorneys likely made the case behind closed doors that the actor being vilified by the police and press would have made it next to impossible for him to get a fair trial.
At the time, TMZ also reported that the Chicago Police were “furious” with the State’s decision to drop all of the charges. Former Police Superintendent Johnson said in a press conference on March 26, 2019 following the charges being dropped, “Do I think justice was served? No.”
In the same press conference, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also called the decision to drop the charges “a whitewash of justice,” citing the grand jury’s decision to bring 16 felony charges after seeing “a sliver” of evidence. He accused the prosecutors of treating Smollett differently from other defendants because of his fame. A week later, the Chicago Police said they would be opening an investigation into the alleged leaks in this case.
The Chicago PD also released several police reports from the case after it was announced the charges were dropped. (The reports can be read here and here.) They reveal, in part, that Smollett was never handcuffed, placed into a cell, or “subjected to the media” while he was in custody.
The reports do not, however, include most of the materials related to this case. And that’s because a new court order has prevented the CPD from releasing any additional records, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. “We were advised at 9:30 a.m. this morning [March 27] that the CPD records and investigative files are now under seal by order of the court,” he said at the time.
Was there any backlash after the charges were dropped last year?
Yes, there was criticism in both the political and legal worlds. On March 28, 2019, the Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association accused the prosecutors of having “fundamentally misled the public on the law and circumstances surrounding the dismissal,” saying that the way in which the Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and her office resolved the case was “abnormal.”
The association specifically said: “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.”
The prosecutor’s office was also criticized by the association for suggesting that somehow sealing the records in this case was mandatory. And Foxx herself had been criticized for not properly recusing herself over having a personal tie to a witness, by appointing someone within her own office to take over the case; legal experts said a special prosecutor should have been appointed in the case.
There was also the financial expense of the case. The initial investigation cost the city a lot in man hours. As such, the Chicago corporation counsel asked on March 28, 2019 that Smollett be required to pay more than $130,000 for the cost of the investigation, while officials in both Illinois and the White House had even suggested there should be an investigation into why the charges were dropped in the first place. State House Republican Jim Durkin asked the state’s attorney general to do a “thorough review,” while President Trump tweeted, “FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago.”
The FBI and Justice Department were expected to evaluate the prosecutor’s involvement in the case after the police union also called for an investigation.
In addition, Republican State Representative from Chicago Michael McAuliffe introduced legislation that could prohibit any production that hires the actor from benefiting from the Illinois Film Tax Credits. “A lot of valuable Chicago Police Department (CPD) man hours and resources were wasted chasing down a bogus crime arranged by Smollett,” he said. “Hate crimes are serious and so is the time and effort of the CPD. He has cost Chicago a lot more than a $10,000 bond.”
As to the way the case was handled, well, the National District Attorneys Association also released a powerful statement: “The recent incident in Chicago involving actor Jussie Smollett is no different and has garnered national attention as the case has made its way through various phases of the investigation and prosecution process. …While details of the case remain sealed, several observations must be made in order to increase, not diminish, the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system.”
Ultimately, they advised that “when a chief prosecutor recuses him or herself, the recusal must apply to the entire office, not just the elected or appointed prosecutor;” “prosecutors should not take advice from politically connected friends of the accused;” “when a prosecutor seeks to resolve a case through diversion or some other alternative to prosecution, it should be done so with an acknowledgement of culpability on the part of the defendant. A case with the consequential effects of Mr. Smollett’s should not be resolved without a finding of guilt or innocence;” and “expunging Mr. Smollett’s record at this immediate stage is counter to transparency. Law enforcement will now not be able to acknowledge that Mr. Smollett was indicted and charged with these horrible crimes and the full record of what occurred will be forever hidden from public view.”
What evidence did the police say they had against Smollett in 2019?
During a press conference on February 21, 2019, Eddie Johnson, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, said Smollett orchestrated and paid to stage the attack.
First, he said, Smollett attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter to himself. When that didn’t work, Smollett then paid $3,500 to two brothers, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, to stage the attack because, according to Johnson, Smollett “was dissatisfied with his salary” on the hit TV show Empire.
The two brothers Smollett allegedly hired, men he knew from working on Empire, were wearing gloves and punched the actor “a little bit,” Johnson said. He also said that phone records between Smollett and the two brothers show communication both before and after the staged attack.
Johnson also confirmed that the police had evidence of money payment in the form of the actual check Smollett paid the brothers. Smollett claimed the payment was for services rendered in the form of fitness training.
How did Chicago police come to the conclusion that Smollett orchestrated the attack?
Commander of the Chicago Police Department, Edward Wodnicki, outlined the timeline of the investigation during the February 21 press conference.
He said the investigation officially began at 2 a.m. on the morning of January 29, when Smollett first reported that he was the victim of a hate crime. The actor was initially interviewed at Northwestern Hospital.
“Jussie was not hurt,” said Wodnicki, other than a few scratches on his face and some bruising. He said it appeared that the scratches may have been self-inflicted.
The police interviewed more than 100 people in the area after the supposed attack.
“We quickly found two persons of interest on video that we believed were the likely offenders in this case,” said Wodnicki. About 35 different police cameras and 20 private-sector cameras were used to track the suspects. The two brothers seen in the video were eventually identified through a rideshare service they used to flee the scene.
On Friday, February 15, 2019, after 47 hours of the brothers being in custody, and hours of interrogation, they were no longer considered suspects in the case. Based on the evidence the brothers provided (including the payment from Smollett), the State Attorney’s Office approved charges against the actor.
Additionally, Smollett had been reluctant to meet with investigators for a follow-up interview. And while he has every legal right to not answer questions as per his attorney’s advice, some critics argued from the beginning that his story had holes in it, like the 40-minute gap between the supposed attack and when police were contacted.
Another red flag for investigators early on may have been when Smollett initially refused to turn his phone over to the police. At the time, the police were trying to establish a timeline of the attack based on Smollett’s own statement that he was speaking on the phone to his manager when the alleged attack happened. Though he eventually provided redacted phone records to investigators, it’s unclear if any of the phone records were edited. It appears that the phone records showing communication between Smollett and the brothers came from the brothers’ own phone records, which they handed over willingly.
What happened after Smollett was first charged?
Because Smollett was charged with making a false police report, a felony disorderly conduct charge that could bring jail time and/or monetary fines, he was booked by police and had a bond hearing on February 21.
During the hearing, Smollett faced a judge to officially make his plea. The judge granted a bond of which Smollett was required to pay $100,000 based on the defendant not being a danger to the community or a flight risk. (He paid 10 percent of that, as is standard.) He was also asked to surrender his passport.
How did Smollett respond after being arrested inititally?
The Empire actor has maintained his innocence from the beginning of the investigation. On March 14, 2019, he pled not guilty to all charges and denied any involvement in fabricating the attack.
On the night of February 20, his lawyers released a statement saying, “Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked.”
They also added: “Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense.”
How did Smollett react after the charges were dropped?
When the charges were dropped in 2019, Smollett spoke briefly outside the courthouse. He thanked his family and friends, the people of Chicago and around the world who supported him. He added:
His attorneys also said in a statement, “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 judgment.”
The statement adds: “The entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case, Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.”
They said that Smollett is “relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career.”
Would Smollett have faced jail time if he’d been convicted in 2019?
Yes. The charge for filing a false police report is a felony in Illinois. Technically, it’s considered a Class 4 felony, the least serious of all possible felony charges, but it still carries a sentence ranging from one to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
In order to have charged Smollett, the investigators needed to prove to the grand jury that he knowingly lied to police about the incident, which resulted in a false police report. The actor could also have been forced to pay restitution for the cost of the investigation, which, given the high-profile nature of the case, could have been substantial.
As this case moved forward, prosecutors may also have been considered adding an obstruction of justice charge, which basically would have meant that Smollett would have stood accused of “knowingly” resisting or obstructing the work of an investigator. This could have also carried jail time.
The 16 additional charges that were added (and since dropped) each also carried up to four years in jail or probation.
At that point, one of the best-case scenarios for the actor at the time would have been to plead to a misdemeanor to avoid prison time. But again, given the high-profile nature of the case, a judge may not have been been so lenient as to accept the plea. Smollett could have ended up facing a very public criminal trial. Even before he was formally charged, he hired two criminal-defense attorneys, Victor Henderson and Todd Pugh, who said they intended to vigorously defend their client against all charges.
What about the threatening letter Smollett says he received last year?
Johnson said during the original press conference on February 21, 2019, that the police believed Smollett did fabricate the letter. Both the FBI and U.S. Postal inspectors were investigating the letter, which said, “You will die black faggot,” in cut-out magazine letters. It also featured a stick figure hanging from a tree.
At this point it’s unclear if Smollett will face any charges for the letter since the new charges were filed. If charges are brought, Smollett could be charged with federal mail fraud, which carries its own set of criminal charges beyond what he is already facing in the state of Illinois. To be convicted of mail fraud, a prosecutor would need to prove that the actor intended to perform a fraudulent act and that he used the mail purposely to execute it.
Charges for being convicted of mail fraud range from fines up to $250,000 to prison time up to 20 years. Other lesser options include probation or even making restitution. The penalty really depends on the severity of the case and the criminal history of the person or persons involved.
What happens when someone is charged with a felony?
A felony remains on a person’s criminal record for the duration of his life. It may preclude him from certain things, like being able to vote or even run for and hold political office. Felons are also disqualified from jury duty for at least seven years. Felons are also unable to own firearms.
In addition, felons risk losing permits or licenses for work depending on the nature of the crime. As a convicted felon, Smollett could be denied approval as a foster or adoptive parent. He would also very likely serve jail time, pay fines, or be put on probation. It will ultimately depend on a judge’s discretion and the seriousness of the charges.
Has Smollett had any other trouble with the law?
In 2007, Smollett pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts related to a DUI in Los Angeles. One of the counts was, interestingly, giving false information to the police.
The actor reportedly gave police a false name when he was arrested, that of his brother Jake. As such, he was charged with false impersonation, as well as driving under the influence and driving without a license. He was sentenced to three years’ probation. He also completed a mandatory alcohol-treatment program.
What’s happened to Smollett’s career since the alleged attack?
His bosses at Empire initially “removed” the actor’s character Jamal at the end of last season. At the time, Chris Alexander, a spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television and the Fox network that produces the hit show, said in a statement, “Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified that all charges against him have been dismissed.” There have been no further comments from the network since the case has been reopened.
Smollett hasn’t been active on his official social-media accounts for quite some time. His last Twitter post was in early 2019, and he hasn’t posted to Instagram since June 2019. He’s retreated from public life with no news about either his singing or acting career.
This piece has been updated throughout to incorporate information about the new criminal charges filed against Smollett.
All Your Questions About Jussie Smollett’s Indictment, Answered
By Natalie Hope McDonald
Jussie Smollett. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Just when it looked as though former Empire star Jussie Smollett may have dodged the criminal charges that were filed last year and later dropped in the controversial case in which he allegedly faked an assault, he’s back in court again. This time, a Chicago grand jury indicted Smollett on six new charges as of Tuesday, which, according to court documents, allege that the actor “planned and participated” in staging a hate crime against himself.
It all started after midnight on January 29, 2019, the night Smollett says he was attacked on a Chicago street. The then-36-year-old told police that he was beaten outside of the Loews Hotel by two white men in ski masks who yelled racist and homophobic slurs, and championed “MAGA country,” as they tied a rope around his neck and poured bleach on him.
Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the Chicago police immediately began investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. They even tied a threatening letter that was reportedly sent to the actor prior to the alleged attack to the investigation. It contained anti-gay rhetoric and a mysterious white powder.
As news broke of what many were calling a shocking hate crime, many celebrities and politicians rallied behind the openly gay actor, both in the press and on social media. Former presidential candidate Kamala Harris even called the incident a “modern-day lynching,” while Smollett appeared on a television interview on ABC with Robin Roberts, where he reiterated that what he told police was unequivocally true.
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It wasn’t until February 2019, when investigators uncovered a blurry video of two men walking near the supposed crime scene that the case took a very unexpected turn, one that would eventually cast suspicion on the actor himself. By February 20, a Cook County, Illinois, grand jury found probable cause that Smollett staged the attack. The young actor was arrested, charged with felony disorderly conduct, and released on bond shortly before being written off the hit show Empire. Smollett was also slapped with 16 more felony counts after allegedly lying to police about the alleged hate crime.
But then on March 26, 2019, prosecutors in the case abruptly dropped all charges against the actor, leading to a lot of questions and prompting a new investigation that took a sharp turn this week when Smollett was indicted for a second time.
Below, we’ve answered some of the biggest questions about why the case was reopened and whether Smollett could actually face jail time if convicted.
What is Smollett charged with now?
The actor is facing six new criminal charges, including that he planned and participated in the staging of a hate crime and made four separate false reports to the Chicago Police Department.
Who opened the new case and why?
Special prosecutor Dan K. Webb, who had been investigating the case for months, helped bring the new charges in Cook County after taking over from the former state’s attorney Kim Foxx who dropped the charges against Smollett last year. Her controversial decision shocked many and led to an unprecedented press conference by the Chicago Police Department in which it blasted the decision. Webb said that he’s pursuing the case against Smollett because “reasonable grounds exist to further prosecute the actor.”
What could happen next?
With new criminal charges filed against Smollett, he will likely face a trial in Cook County unless he and his attorneys somehow make a deal with the prosecutors. At this time, there’s no evidence to suggest that the district attorney would even accept a deal, especially given the high-profile nature of the case.
Some big questions to consider if there is a criminal trial is how and where Smollett would be able to get a fair trial (this will likely become a major talking point for the actor’s legal team), what evidence would be submitted (is there a video of the alleged attack?), and who ultimately would take the stand (two brothers testified to a grand jury last year that Smollett hired them to stage the attack, and there is video of the men buying supplies that were allegedly used in the alleged attack).
In addition to the criminal charges, Smollett also faces a lawsuit from the City of Chicago to recover the costs of investigating “Mr. Smollett’s false statements,” according to TMZ. The actor has also since made a counterclaim against the city that is still pending.
He’s scheduled to appear in court on February 24.
Could Smollett end up in jail?
Yes. The charge for filing a false police report is a felony in Illinois. Technically, it’s considered a Class 4 felony, the least serious of all possible felony charges, but it still carries a sentence ranging from one to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
If found guilty in a criminal trial, the actor could also be forced to pay restitution for the cost of the investigation, which, given the high-profile nature of the case, could be substantial.
Depending on what happens next, prosecutors could even add an obstruction-of-justice charge, which basically suggests that Smollett “knowingly” resisted or obstructed the work of an investigator (this charge also carries jail time).
How has Smollett reacted to the new charges?
The actor’s legal team released a statement that says, in part: “This indictment raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation that led to the renewed charges against Mr. Smollett … The attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State’s Attorney election is clearly all about politics and not justice.”
So why were the first set of charges against Smollett dropped last year?
All of the criminal charges against the actor were dropped as of March 26, 2019 by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. While the prosecutors did not reveal why exactly they dropped the felony charges, they said the decision was made after reviewing all of the facts in light of Smollett’s forfeiture of his $10,000 bond. Usually when charges are dropped, the bond is returned to the defendant; in this case, Smollett agreed to give the bond he paid to the city, which is unusual in a case like this.
“After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case,” the state’s attorney’s office said in a statement at the time, “ 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.”
As a result, Smollett did not face trial and had his record expunged.
Weren’t there 16 different charges added to his initial charges last year?
Yes. On March 8, 2019, Smollett was charged with 16 additional felony counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. The grand jury specifically returned two separate sets of charges related to the actor’s allegations that his supposed attackers called him racist and homophobic slurs, used a noose, and poured a chemical on him. His testimony to police immediately after the incident, as well as his second interview with police, had both contributed to the last grand jury decision in 2019, the prosecutors said.
But all 16 of the additional charges were dropped as well on March 26, 2019. Smollett’s attorneys had also requested and were granted that the records be sealed.
What happened to the video evidence mentioned in the initial complaint?
Any and all evidence in this case would have been considered by the prosecutors and may have also led to the new charges being filed. At this time, it’s unclear whether any alleged video of the alleged attack exists or what evidence could or will be used in a criminal trial.
Did leaks and press appearances by the Chicago Police contribute to the decision to drop charges the first time around?
It probably didn’t help. From the start, Smollett’s attorneys argued that the police overstepped when they initially held a press conference calling Smollett a criminal. His attorneys likely made the case behind closed doors that the actor being vilified by the police and press would have made it next to impossible for him to get a fair trial.
At the time, TMZ also reported that the Chicago Police were “furious” with the State’s decision to drop all of the charges. Former Police Superintendent Johnson said in a press conference on March 26, 2019 following the charges being dropped, “Do I think justice was served? No.”
In the same press conference, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also called the decision to drop the charges “a whitewash of justice,” citing the grand jury’s decision to bring 16 felony charges after seeing “a sliver” of evidence. He accused the prosecutors of treating Smollett differently from other defendants because of his fame. A week later, the Chicago Police said they would be opening an investigation into the alleged leaks in this case.
The Chicago PD also released several police reports from the case after it was announced the charges were dropped. (The reports can be read here and here.) They reveal, in part, that Smollett was never handcuffed, placed into a cell, or “subjected to the media” while he was in custody.
The reports do not, however, include most of the materials related to this case. And that’s because a new court order has prevented the CPD from releasing any additional records, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. “We were advised at 9:30 a.m. this morning [March 27] that the CPD records and investigative files are now under seal by order of the court,” he said at the time.
Was there any backlash after the charges were dropped last year?
Yes, there was criticism in both the political and legal worlds. On March 28, 2019, the Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association accused the prosecutors of having “fundamentally misled the public on the law and circumstances surrounding the dismissal,” saying that the way in which the Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and her office resolved the case was “abnormal.”
The association specifically said: “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.”
The prosecutor’s office was also criticized by the association for suggesting that somehow sealing the records in this case was mandatory. And Foxx herself had been criticized for not properly recusing herself over having a personal tie to a witness, by appointing someone within her own office to take over the case; legal experts said a special prosecutor should have been appointed in the case.
There was also the financial expense of the case. The initial investigation cost the city a lot in man hours. As such, the Chicago corporation counsel asked on March 28, 2019 that Smollett be required to pay more than $130,000 for the cost of the investigation, while officials in both Illinois and the White House had even suggested there should be an investigation into why the charges were dropped in the first place. State House Republican Jim Durkin asked the state’s attorney general to do a “thorough review,” while President Trump tweeted, “FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago.”
The FBI and Justice Department were expected to evaluate the prosecutor’s involvement in the case after the police union also called for an investigation.
In addition, Republican State Representative from Chicago Michael McAuliffe introduced legislation that could prohibit any production that hires the actor from benefiting from the Illinois Film Tax Credits. “A lot of valuable Chicago Police Department (CPD) man hours and resources were wasted chasing down a bogus crime arranged by Smollett,” he said. “Hate crimes are serious and so is the time and effort of the CPD. He has cost Chicago a lot more than a $10,000 bond.”
As to the way the case was handled, well, the National District Attorneys Association also released a powerful statement: “The recent incident in Chicago involving actor Jussie Smollett is no different and has garnered national attention as the case has made its way through various phases of the investigation and prosecution process. …While details of the case remain sealed, several observations must be made in order to increase, not diminish, the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system.”
Ultimately, they advised that “when a chief prosecutor recuses him or herself, the recusal must apply to the entire office, not just the elected or appointed prosecutor;” “prosecutors should not take advice from politically connected friends of the accused;” “when a prosecutor seeks to resolve a case through diversion or some other alternative to prosecution, it should be done so with an acknowledgement of culpability on the part of the defendant. A case with the consequential effects of Mr. Smollett’s should not be resolved without a finding of guilt or innocence;” and “expunging Mr. Smollett’s record at this immediate stage is counter to transparency. Law enforcement will now not be able to acknowledge that Mr. Smollett was indicted and charged with these horrible crimes and the full record of what occurred will be forever hidden from public view.”
What evidence did the police say they had against Smollett in 2019?
During a press conference on February 21, 2019, Eddie Johnson, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, said Smollett orchestrated and paid to stage the attack.
First, he said, Smollett attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter to himself. When that didn’t work, Smollett then paid $3,500 to two brothers, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, to stage the attack because, according to Johnson, Smollett “was dissatisfied with his salary” on the hit TV show Empire.
The two brothers Smollett allegedly hired, men he knew from working on Empire, were wearing gloves and punched the actor “a little bit,” Johnson said. He also said that phone records between Smollett and the two brothers show communication both before and after the staged attack.
Johnson also confirmed that the police had evidence of money payment in the form of the actual check Smollett paid the brothers. Smollett claimed the payment was for services rendered in the form of fitness training.
How did Chicago police come to the conclusion that Smollett orchestrated the attack?
Commander of the Chicago Police Department, Edward Wodnicki, outlined the timeline of the investigation during the February 21 press conference.
He said the investigation officially began at 2 a.m. on the morning of January 29, when Smollett first reported that he was the victim of a hate crime. The actor was initially interviewed at Northwestern Hospital.
“Jussie was not hurt,” said Wodnicki, other than a few scratches on his face and some bruising. He said it appeared that the scratches may have been self-inflicted.
The police interviewed more than 100 people in the area after the supposed attack.
“We quickly found two persons of interest on video that we believed were the likely offenders in this case,” said Wodnicki. About 35 different police cameras and 20 private-sector cameras were used to track the suspects. The two brothers seen in the video were eventually identified through a rideshare service they used to flee the scene.
On Friday, February 15, 2019, after 47 hours of the brothers being in custody, and hours of interrogation, they were no longer considered suspects in the case. Based on the evidence the brothers provided (including the payment from Smollett), the State Attorney’s Office approved charges against the actor.
Additionally, Smollett had been reluctant to meet with investigators for a follow-up interview. And while he has every legal right to not answer questions as per his attorney’s advice, some critics argued from the beginning that his story had holes in it, like the 40-minute gap between the supposed attack and when police were contacted.
Another red flag for investigators early on may have been when Smollett initially refused to turn his phone over to the police. At the time, the police were trying to establish a timeline of the attack based on Smollett’s own statement that he was speaking on the phone to his manager when the alleged attack happened. Though he eventually provided redacted phone records to investigators, it’s unclear if any of the phone records were edited. It appears that the phone records showing communication between Smollett and the brothers came from the brothers’ own phone records, which they handed over willingly.
What happened after Smollett was first charged?
Because Smollett was charged with making a false police report, a felony disorderly conduct charge that could bring jail time and/or monetary fines, he was booked by police and had a bond hearing on February 21.
During the hearing, Smollett faced a judge to officially make his plea. The judge granted a bond of which Smollett was required to pay $100,000 based on the defendant not being a danger to the community or a flight risk. (He paid 10 percent of that, as is standard.) He was also asked to surrender his passport.
How did Smollett respond after being arrested inititally?
The Empire actor has maintained his innocence from the beginning of the investigation. On March 14, 2019, he pled not guilty to all charges and denied any involvement in fabricating the attack.
On the night of February 20, his lawyers released a statement saying, “Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked.”
They also added: “Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense.”
How did Smollett react after the charges were dropped?
When the charges were dropped in 2019, Smollett spoke briefly outside the courthouse. He thanked his family and friends, the people of Chicago and around the world who supported him. He added:
He also signed autographs and said he would continue to “fight for the betterment of marginalized people everywhere.”
His attorneys also said in a statement, “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 judgment.”
The statement adds: “The entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case, Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.”
They said that Smollett is “relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career.”
Would Smollett have faced jail time if he’d been convicted in 2019?
Yes. The charge for filing a false police report is a felony in Illinois. Technically, it’s considered a Class 4 felony, the least serious of all possible felony charges, but it still carries a sentence ranging from one to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
In order to have charged Smollett, the investigators needed to prove to the grand jury that he knowingly lied to police about the incident, which resulted in a false police report. The actor could also have been forced to pay restitution for the cost of the investigation, which, given the high-profile nature of the case, could have been substantial.
As this case moved forward, prosecutors may also have been considered adding an obstruction of justice charge, which basically would have meant that Smollett would have stood accused of “knowingly” resisting or obstructing the work of an investigator. This could have also carried jail time.
The 16 additional charges that were added (and since dropped) each also carried up to four years in jail or probation.
At that point, one of the best-case scenarios for the actor at the time would have been to plead to a misdemeanor to avoid prison time. But again, given the high-profile nature of the case, a judge may not have been been so lenient as to accept the plea. Smollett could have ended up facing a very public criminal trial. Even before he was formally charged, he hired two criminal-defense attorneys, Victor Henderson and Todd Pugh, who said they intended to vigorously defend their client against all charges.
What about the threatening letter Smollett says he received last year?
Johnson said during the original press conference on February 21, 2019, that the police believed Smollett did fabricate the letter. Both the FBI and U.S. Postal inspectors were investigating the letter, which said, “You will die black faggot,” in cut-out magazine letters. It also featured a stick figure hanging from a tree.
At this point it’s unclear if Smollett will face any charges for the letter since the new charges were filed. If charges are brought, Smollett could be charged with federal mail fraud, which carries its own set of criminal charges beyond what he is already facing in the state of Illinois. To be convicted of mail fraud, a prosecutor would need to prove that the actor intended to perform a fraudulent act and that he used the mail purposely to execute it.
Charges for being convicted of mail fraud range from fines up to $250,000 to prison time up to 20 years. Other lesser options include probation or even making restitution. The penalty really depends on the severity of the case and the criminal history of the person or persons involved.
What happens when someone is charged with a felony?
A felony remains on a person’s criminal record for the duration of his life. It may preclude him from certain things, like being able to vote or even run for and hold political office. Felons are also disqualified from jury duty for at least seven years. Felons are also unable to own firearms.
In addition, felons risk losing permits or licenses for work depending on the nature of the crime. As a convicted felon, Smollett could be denied approval as a foster or adoptive parent. He would also very likely serve jail time, pay fines, or be put on probation. It will ultimately depend on a judge’s discretion and the seriousness of the charges.
Has Smollett had any other trouble with the law?
In 2007, Smollett pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts related to a DUI in Los Angeles. One of the counts was, interestingly, giving false information to the police.
The actor reportedly gave police a false name when he was arrested, that of his brother Jake. As such, he was charged with false impersonation, as well as driving under the influence and driving without a license. He was sentenced to three years’ probation. He also completed a mandatory alcohol-treatment program.
What’s happened to Smollett’s career since the alleged attack?
His bosses at Empire initially “removed” the actor’s character Jamal at the end of last season. At the time, Chris Alexander, a spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television and the Fox network that produces the hit show, said in a statement, “Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified that all charges against him have been dismissed.” There have been no further comments from the network since the case has been reopened.
Smollett hasn’t been active on his official social-media accounts for quite some time. His last Twitter post was in early 2019, and he hasn’t posted to Instagram since June 2019. He’s retreated from public life with no news about either his singing or acting career.
This piece has been updated throughout to incorporate information about the new criminal charges filed against Smollett.
It amazes me how he threw his career
and basically his life down the toilet,
all to try and gain some kind of
recognition?
I have no sympathy.
It amazes me how he threw his career
and basically his life down the toilet,
all to try and gain some kind of
recognition?
I have no sympathy.
#itrustedhim