# All Charges Against Jussie Smollett Dropped. Er, updated tried and sentenced **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562 "2019-03-26T15:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/261 "2021-12-10T17:26:56Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > … does anyone think the prosecution witnesses be looking at perjury charges if he was acquitted? Note that acquittal says the prosecution didn’t meet its burden of proof; it definitely doesn’t mean “He’s completely innocent and the prosecution fabricated their case out of whole cloth.” OTOH, if there was actual evidence that a prosecution witness lied, perjury charges certainly would be appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/262 "2021-12-10T17:35:13Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > OTOH, if there was actual evidence that a prosecution witness lied, perjury charges certainly would be appropriate. I agree. I’m just saying it practically never happens. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/263 "2021-12-10T17:38:17Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I would think people would equally object to Lemon’s actions At this point, all we know is that Smollett claimed to have heard about police skepticism from Lemon. Assuming that is fully true, we have no evidence at this time that Lemon’s text was “Watch out Jussie, they don’t believe you!” rather than “Jussie, I have it on authority that the Chicago Police are skeptical of your story, do you have a comment?” ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/264 "2021-12-10T18:16:37Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > And what’s bad about that tweet? Characterizing the alleged incident as a modern day lynching impresses me as showing a lack of critical thinking and a willingness to sensationalize something without waiting for reliable information. Not what I would hope for from a Veep. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/265 "2021-12-10T18:20:34Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Characterizing the alleged incident as a modern day lynching impresses me as showing a lack of critical thinking and a willingness to sensationalize something without waiting for reliable information. Initially, there was no reason to be suspicious of the allegations, and Smollett’s scheme was so bizarre that I don’t blame anyone for originally assuming it was all true. In that light, Harris’ tweet was fine. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/266 "2021-12-10T18:24:04Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Characterizing the alleged incident as a modern day lynching impresses me as showing a lack of critical thinking and a willingness to sensationalize something without waiting for reliable information. Not what I would hope for from a Veep. Well, I mean there was a noose. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/267 "2021-12-10T18:49:09Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Initially, there was no reason to be suspicious of the allegations, and Smollett’s scheme was so bizarre that I don’t blame anyone for originally assuming it was all true. In that light, Harris’ tweet was fine. The whole thing was a hokey bullshit story with no basis in fact. If she wanted to tweet on something that could be backed up with witnesses she could have commented on [Fiston Ngoy](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/17/us/riders-watched-woman-raped-septa.html) raping a woman on a train. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/268 "2021-12-10T19:12:16Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The whole thing was a hokey bullshit story with no basis in fact. Apparently. But that was not immediately obvious. It was a strange story, but the actual truth, as found by the jury, was even stranger. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/269 "2021-12-10T19:54:39Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Initially, there was no reason to be suspicious of the allegations, and Smollett’s scheme was so bizarre that I don’t blame anyone for originally assuming it was all true. In that light, Harris’ tweet was fine. Cool. Your opinion. To many others, the idea that a couple of thugs were hanging around waiting for Smollett to run out for a sandwich on the coldest night of the year, the story was at least hinky enough to wait a beat before accepting it in its entirety and characterize it in such sensational terms. Plenty of reason to be suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/270 "2021-12-10T20:51:46Z")
> **[White House on Smollett verdict: Lying about a hate crime is ‘shameful’](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/585354-white-house-on-smollett-verdict-lying-about-a-hate-crime-is-shameful/)** > > White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday warned falsifying hate crimes hurts real victims of those incidents after actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty of lying to Chicago police about a r… ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/271 "2021-12-11T02:38:27Z")
Sorry if this was already posted: [![](https://i.imgur.com/8sThglh.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/8sThglh.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/272 "2021-12-11T16:59:28Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > > [@Procrustus](#): > > > > Initially, there was no reason to be suspicious of the allegations, and Smollett’s scheme was so bizarre that I don’t blame anyone for originally assuming it was all true. In that light, Harris’ tweet was fine. > > Cool. Your opinion. To many others, the idea that a couple of thugs were hanging around waiting for Smollett to run out for a sandwich on the coldest night of the year, the story was at least hinky enough to wait a beat before accepting it in its entirety and characterize it in such sensational terms. Plenty of reason to be suspicious. Yeah there was not one second when I didn’t think there was something off about his story. I couldn’t guess exactly what happened but it was very suspicious from the beginning. Which is why the Chappelle clip is so funny. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/273 "2021-12-11T17:16:10Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Which is why the Chappelle clip is so funny. Cop: MAGA hats!?! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/274 "2021-12-11T17:18:09Z")
From a N.Y. Post story about the Suspicious Sandwich: "Another suspicious sign was that Smollett’s Subway tuna sandwich, which he told cops he’d been [walking home with at the time of the attack](https://nypost.com/2021/12/06/jussie-smollett-takes-the-stand-in-his-own-defense/), was still in good shape after the supposed beating. “He comes back, gets attacked in a supposed hate crime, and during all this scuffle, they poured bleach on him, when he got up and went into his apartment building, he got up and still had that Subway sandwich with him. That doesn’t happen,” (the former Chicago police chief) said." Gee, maybe Smollett was _really_ fond of Subway tuna sandwiches.\* Or are we supposed to believe that because Subway tuna is allegedly fake, his story was fake too? \*'Your sandwich or your life." (long pause) “I’m thinking, I’m thinking.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/275 "2021-12-11T17:34:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > From a N.Y. Post story about the Suspicious Sandwich: > > "Another suspicious sign was that Smollett’s Subway tuna sandwich, which he told cops he’d been [walking home with at the time of the attack](https://nypost.com/2021/12/06/jussie-smollett-takes-the-stand-in-his-own-defense/), was still in good shape after the supposed beating. > > “He comes back, gets attacked in a supposed hate crime, and during all this scuffle, they poured bleach on him, when he got up and went into his apartment building, he got up and still had that Subway sandwich with him. That doesn’t happen,” (the former Chicago police chief) said." > > Gee, maybe Smollett was _really_ fond of Subway tuna sandwiches.\* Or are we supposed to believe that because Subway tuna is allegedly fake, his story was fake too? > > \*'Your sandwich or your life." > (long pause) > “I’m thinking, I’m thinking.” I don’t care how fake it is, it’s still a good sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/276 "2021-12-11T17:44:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Yeah there was not one second when I didn’t think there was something off about his story. Ditto. It immediately reminded me of the woman who carved a backward B in her face (because she used a mirror) and blamed it on a roving street gang supporting **B** arack Obama. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/277 "2021-12-11T18:36:21Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > > [@Procrustus](#): > > > > Initially, there was no reason to be suspicious of the allegations, and Smollett’s scheme was so bizarre that I don’t blame anyone for originally assuming it was all true. In that light, Harris’ tweet was fine. > > Cool. Your opinion. To many others, the idea that a couple of thugs were hanging around waiting for Smollett to run out for a sandwich on the coldest night of the year, the story was at least hinky enough to wait a beat before accepting it in its entirety and characterize it in such sensational terms. Plenty of reason to be suspicious. Not all opinions are created equal. I would argue black woman making a post about what appeared to be a hate crime involving someone she knew and trusted is not a valid reason to hold that woman in contempt. It is perfectly normal to be emotional around racism, and it’s not remotely my place as a white man to tell someone that such a reaction is wrong. The broad outlines aren’t suspicious. Nothing in your summary is suspicious. It is the sort of thing that has happened before. One of the biggest issues with Smollett lying is that now people who get attacked in this way won’t be believed. Sure, there are reasons to be suspicious in the details. I have no problem with people saying that. But it’s ridiculous to use that as a reason to attack the VP, let alone help someone who was using this as a reason to mock the Democrats as a whole and play up the whole “PC culture” nonsense. I think it’s both dumb and dangerous to play into the narrative that the “black VP can’t be trusted about race.” It helps no one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/278 "2021-12-11T18:40:28Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Not all opinions are created equal. I would argue black woman making a post about what appeared to be a hate crime involving someone she knew and trusted is not a valid reason to hold that woman in contempt. It is perfectly normal to be emotional around racism, and it’s not remotely my place as a white man to tell someone that such a reaction is wrong. “I am a human being; nothing human can be alien to me.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/279 "2021-12-12T00:31:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > > [@Dinsdale](#): > > > > > [@Procrustus](#): > > > > > > Initially, there was no reason to be suspicious of the allegations, and Smollett’s scheme was so bizarre that I don’t blame anyone for originally assuming it was all true. In that light, Harris’ tweet was fine. > > > > Cool. Your opinion. To many others, the idea that a couple of thugs were hanging around waiting for Smollett to run out for a sandwich on the coldest night of the year, the story was at least hinky enough to wait a beat before accepting it in its entirety and characterize it in such sensational terms. Plenty of reason to be suspicious. > > Not all opinions are created equal. I would argue black woman making a post about what appeared to be a hate crime involving someone she knew and trusted is not a valid reason to hold that woman in contempt. It is perfectly normal to be emotional around racism, and it’s not remotely my place as a white man to tell someone that such a reaction is wrong. > > The broad outlines aren’t suspicious. Nothing in your summary is suspicious. It is the sort of thing that has happened before. One of the biggest issues with Smollett lying is that now people who get attacked in this way won’t be believed. > > Sure, there are reasons to be suspicious in the details. I have no problem with people saying that. But it’s ridiculous to use that as a reason to attack the VP, let alone help someone who was using this as a reason to mock the Democrats as a whole and play up the whole “PC culture” nonsense. > > I think it’s both dumb and dangerous to play into the narrative that the “black VP can’t be trusted about race.” It helps no one. The whole point was that nothing like that has happened before. Unless you break it down to only “Black guy gets assaulted.” The VP candidate said that at a point where it was already clear that things were off. I would hope she would have access to better information than me. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562/280 "2021-12-12T03:05:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The VP candidate said that at a point where it was already clear that things were off. I would hope she would have access to better information than me. Yeah. KH is someone I respect. I would hope people whom I respect who are in positions of authority would be more circumspect about tossing around charges like “lynching.” Had enough of that shit last admin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-charges-against-jussie-smollett-dropped-er-updated-tried-and-sentenced/831562.md?page=15)