If I had to guess, the prosecutor realized that the charges are fairly minor, and if they can’t absolutely prove that the money was to fake the attack instead of personal training services, there’s reasonable doubt and a low chance of conviction. Probably not worth the time and attention a failed high profile prosecution would garner.
As I said when O.J. Simpson was acquitted, “Money talks louder than race. I suppose that’s an improvement.”
I predict he’ll be on the cover of some magazines very quickly and hailed as a hero as well.
Not outside the realm of possibility, I suppose, given it’s a news story.
I doubt this by any mainstream group.
I do. His false allegations could have gotten two actors imprisoned for assault and hate crimes. A point that seems to have been missed in this deal.
If he would have just kept his mouth shut when the charges were dropped and disappeared from the spotlight I probably would have forgotten about it.
But if you’re immediately going to hold a press conference and declare that you’ve told the truth from day one you better expect a whole lot of people to challenge you on that.
This guy must have taken a lesson from the Trump life lessons handbook. If you’re not charged with anything you apparently get to make up your own reality.
I’ll be interested to see what happens on Empire.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Smollett returns quietly in a reduced role. Gauge public reaction and maybe build his role back up.
The Empire’s staff meetings must be pretty heated. Could go either way with Jussie.
I saw a (the?) prosecutor on the news and he said non-violent offenders generally aren’t prosecuted. He went on to say it didn’t exonerate him of the charges. When asked if he thought he was guilty he said yes.
It would be interesting if Chicago billed him for the investigation.
I’m sure the Chicago police will be happy to hear they no longer have to investigate any crimes that don’t involve violence. That will really cut down on the workload. It’s also a complete crock of shit. I’m hearing from a lot of Chicago cops and that’s not the case at all. He’s just making shit up on the fly.
It’s enough of an outrageous that he wasn’t prosecuted, but the fact that he’s claiming he’s been vindicated and that we all rushed to judgement is insane. Fuck this country.
:checks: Yes, I did open the right thread.
It definitely bothers me, and I approve of Emanuel’s condemnation. (Can he do anything else?) I wouldn’t be mad at it being pleaded out to something small, but full on rejection is ridiculous. The guy did something both sides should find heinous.
His original action made it harder for actual victims to be believed. And the lack of prosecution means others will think they can do it, too, without consequence. It needed some response that would dissuade others, even if it wouldn’t be a huge deal to him personally. A fine, maybe, or community service. Something!
And, yes, it will be used politically, which is a lesser but still significant issue. It will be used to claim that lefties or minorities can get away with anything. If any right wing darling gets accused, it will hit the above and be thought of as fake and the only reason it was prosecuted was because of his politics. It doesn’t even have to be the same issue: I’ve already seen it used to say that Flynn is being unfairly treated.
Yes, I’m sure it’s because of money and corruption in Chicago. But even that plays into certain right wing crap.
The only fix I’ve seen suggested is federal charges being brought instead. But I’m not sure that’s possible, let along practical.
Your name isn’t Francis by chance?
Smollett is still going to be prosecuted by the court of public opinion which could hurt him more than a first time conviction.
In some ways, I feel like, why is this even news? Jussy Smollet was a minor celebrity (or at least I had no idea who he was or that he even existed before this) and who really gives a damn if a nobody almost famous enough actor got a legal freebie, why are we paying attention to this loser?
The rest of me wants to be outraged in some fashion at the seeming abuse of justice.
Put them together and its just another sigh of resignation at the futility.
Im going to go sit over here and watch till I get myself drunk/sober/figured out.
The other issue raised is the threat he received at the Empire’s Chicago studio. There were thoughts raised that he sent the mail himself.
If so he could be subject to Federal prosecution.
The forfeited bond is chump change compared to what his high-powered legal team would have charged to go through with the trial.
Forfeiting the bond was the sound economic move.
My one consolation: you can’t fix stupid. Surely he’ll end up doing something like this again.
For what? Do you think the prosecutors said “We know you did it but if you give up the 10 grand we’ll totally dismiss the charges and you can tell everybody you were totally innocent?” That doesn’t happen, and if he didn’t do it he’d go after the money because now they have nothing on him, that’s the sound economic move.
Just because you never heard of him (and I didn’t either) doesn’t make him minor. He by all accounts is a rising star as an actor and musician on a hit TV show. But more than that is unfortunately the political aspect. This hoax was perpetrated for a political end. He is an activist as well as an actor. His family is very well connected politically. His actress sister worked for the Obama campaign and is well known enough to have introduced him at least one rally. Try to ignore this as much as you want but this is all politics from top to bottom. And it’s Chicago politics which means it stinks more than usual.
Gah! Just fire the guy from the show and be done!