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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2019 17:23:26 GMT
“Empire” star Jussie Smollett disputed the narrative that his alleged January attackers wore Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats in an interview with “Good Morning America” Thursday. Several media outlets reported that Smollett said the alleged attackers wore MAGA hats, but Smollett says that’s inaccurate. “I didn’t need to add anything like that,” Smollett said. “They called me a [bleep]. They called me a [bleep]. There’s no which way you cut it. I don’t need some MAGA hat as the cherry on top of some racist sundae.”  Jussie Smollett grew emotional at the idea his attackers would not be caught. "I understand how difficult it will be to find them, but we gotta. I still want to believe with everything that's happened that there's something called justice," he said on #GMA thr.cm/09guHY |
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Post by Admin on Mar 10, 2019 18:04:15 GMT
As Smollett faces multiple felony charges for supposedly staging the widely reviled assault at the end of January, the Chicago Police Department has now opened a probe into leaks that came from its officers and officials during the early days of the case.
“An internal investigation has been opened,” the Windy City’ cops’ Sgt. Rocco Alioto confirmed to Deadline on Friday.
“I would like to point out that a lot of the information out there was inaccurate and there were numerous agencies involved in this investigation,” Sgt. Alioto added, noting the presence of the FBI and others in the case. “As a standard procedure when there are allegations of information being leaked, an internal investigation has been opened and we are also looking at our vulnerabilities.”
That examination of vulnerabilities comes as the $100,000 bailed out Smollett is expected back in court later this month in a matter that could see him behind bars for up to three years if found guilty.
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Post by Admin on Mar 27, 2019 17:30:25 GMT
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office didn't immediately explain why the 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct were dropped, except to say the decision came after reviewing the case's facts -- and in view of Smollett's willingness to forfeit his $10,000 bond.
"After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett's volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case," the state's attorney's office said in a statement.
Police in Chicago found several pieces of evidence that led them to believe that Smollett orchestrated the attack.
Investigators had footage of the men involved in the alleged assault buying a ski mask, sunglasses and other items. They also had a check that Smollett used to pay one of them.
But no surveillance cameras captured the incident and one of the men was actually Smollett's personal trainer, the actor's attorneys said.
If prosecutors saw holes in their case, they had to do the "best they could do in the interest of justice."
"I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they looked at the evidence and didn't feel they could prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt," said Sara Azari, a criminal defense attorney.
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Post by Admin on Mar 29, 2019 17:22:59 GMT
President Donald Trump said Thursday he would have the FBI and the Justice Department review "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett's case, even as Chicago residents said the president should stay out of the racially charged incident.
"I think that case is an absolute embarrassment to our country, and somebody has to at least take a very good hard look at it," Trump told reporters at the White House, echoing a tweet he sent earlier in the day.
Trump did not explain what, if anything, federal authorities could do about Smollett after local prosecutors in Chicago decided to drop the case against him.
Later, while speaking to a crowd of thousands at a political rally in Michigan, Trump denounced the case and Smollett's claim he "was attacked by MAGA country." Trump called it an "embarrassment not only to Chicago, but to our entire country."
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Post by Admin on Mar 31, 2019 17:31:47 GMT
Saturday Night Live made a point of being an equal opportunity offender in its first episode back after a two-week break. As usual the cold open addressed the latest Donald Trump news–specifically the long-anticipated release of Robert Mueller’s report–and featured the return of Robert De Niro for the fifth, and likely final, time as Mueller.
But the night’s first live sketch was a surprisingly savage take on Empire star Jussie Smollett, who was back in the news this week after Chicago prosecutors stunned the city and the entire nation by dropping all charges against him for allegedly staging his own attack.
Entitled “Network Meeting,” the sketch opens in a boardroom where a trio of executives played by Mikey Day, Kate McKinnon and Ego Nwodim are seated alongside Kenan Thompson as Empire co-creator, Lee Daniels, and the night’s host, Sandra Oh, as Smollett’s manager. “Just give Jussie another chance,” Oh begs, trying to make them overlook the fact that her embattled client is two hours late to the meeting. “I just hope it’s not some crazy excuse,” Daniels remarks, with a sigh.
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