I think its also possible that these two brothers might have lied to prosecutors…so I’m not certain Smollett was guilty of the charges from the beginning.
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Well they all but threw the book at him. I thought the cops totally overreacted.
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Chicago cops come off as the most defensive law enforcement in the country. It seems to lead to a lot of mistakes and overreaction, especially with regards to people of color.
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Trump should study this ruling real good!
THIS IS WHAT A FULL EXONERATION LOOKS LIKE, you dummy!
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This article said $10K. Was that a typo?
Reeks of “we have a Fourth Amendment oopsie” to me.
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Yeah it does at that.
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NY Times also says $10 K.
Smollett did what he did and then the predictably sleazy and corrupt Chicago PD messed up the case by getting caught doing something equally bad. Some warrant less transgression or other. Guy’s off the hook but very far from being innocent.
That’s what I’m wondering. And if so, why did they lie? Did someone pay them to lie? Who?
I had read, but have no direct knowledge whatsoever, that sometimes the amount held is 10% of the total bond amount. If that is the case, then it could be that he forfeited only the 10%, hence the $10K figure.
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His attorneys stated in the press conference quite explicitly that there was no deal and no deferred prosecution.
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Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson are pissed!
I think a prosecutor, or friend thereof, will be running for higher (hire?) office and will get a few juicy contributions from Mr. Smollett.
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The odds of someone being indicted for any particular crime can be though of as a ratio of:
The amount of evidence they have against that person/The ability of that person to fight back
In other words, a prosecutor isn’t likely to try to indict anyone who is rich and powerful unless there’s a shit ton of irrefutable evidence against them whereas a poor black person is likely to get indicted if they’re poor, black and a crime was committed anywhere within a few miles of anywhere they were on the day of the crime.
Using that ratio it’s easy to assume that, if a rich powerful person is indicted, they probably did it, If a poor black person is indicted, a crime was committed somewhere and if a middle class person is indicted, wait for the actual trial to see.
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Conviction means you are guilty. Indictment means there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. IANAL, but I think that is essentially it.
Rahm Emanual is not happy
Jussie Smollett: Chicago mayor attacks ‘whitewash of justice’ as charges dropped
Decision to suddenly drop 16 charges questioned
Smollett: ‘I have been truthful and consistent on every level’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/26/jussie-smollett-charges-dropped-latest-news-maga-attack-lies-accusations-empire-actor
Emanuel and Johnson, the police superintendent, attacked in forceful terms the prosecutors’ decision.
Emanuel said: “This is without a doubt a whitewash of justice, and sends a clear message that if you’re in a position of influence and power, you’ll get treated one way. And other people will get treated another way.”
He hit out at Smollett for refusing to acknowledge wrongdoing. He also said the hoax would hurt other hate-crime victims.
So the Chicago police are mad are they?