The Reverend Al Sharpton believes Jussie Smollett should be held accountable 'to the maximum' if it is found that the Empire actor staged a homophobic and racist attack on himself.
Sharpton was addressing the incident on Sunday after Chicago police said they were still seeking a follow-up interview with Smollett after receiving new information that 'shifted' their investigation of the reported attack.
It shifted after police questioned two Nigerian brothers, Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo, following allegations Smollett paid them $3,500 to assault him in an orchestrated, rehearsed attack.
Sharpton, a civil rights leaders, said the alleged attack on Smollett was a 'reminder of the times we live in' when it was first reported on January 30.
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February 18, 2019, 01:30 PM
LS1 GTO
If true he should be charged and prosecuted with a hate crime.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers
The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...
February 18, 2019, 01:30 PM
sdy
quote:
the alleged attack on Smollett was a 'reminder of the times we live in'
probably true
February 18, 2019, 01:39 PM
justjoe
Sharpton throwing him under the bus is huge-- that is a clear signal from the foremost race hustler in the country to every other hustler and activist. Najee Ali, who apparently is a civil rights activist, also called for Smollett's arrest. He said that had there been video, Smollett could have triggered a race war.
Remember the video of Rodney King? Video of Smollett on the ground being beaten and kicked by two white guys in MAGA hats could indeed have triggered a race war. Just imagine this "vicious beating" being played on a loop on MSM for days on end....
"You get much farther with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone."
February 18, 2019, 02:00 PM
Ronin1069
Even Sharpton relizes (maybe more than others) that this being shown to be fake, only harms his agenda of making blacks feel like they are always going to be oppressed and victimized by whitey, rather than using his influence for lift up black America.
___________________________ All it takes...is all you got. ____________________________ For those who have fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know
Jussie Smollett Case: Clues Into Potential Motive Behind The Attack
“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, upset after a racist letter sent to the show’s studio didn’t get a “bigger reaction,” is suspected of paying two men to attack him a week later, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the investigation.
“When the letter didn’t get enough attention, he concocted the staged attack,” a source told CBS 2 Investigator Brad Edwards. Other sources corroborated that information.
The blockbuster revelation into at least part of Smollett’s potential motive comes two days after CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar reported Smollett and two brothers — Ola and Abel Osundairo — staged the attack on Jan. 29 in Streeterville.
De Mar spoke on the phone exclusively with the Osundairo brothers Monday afternoon. In a joint statement, they said: “We are not racist. We are not homophobic, and we are not anti-Trump. We were born and raised in Chicago and are American citizens.”
Smollett received a letter containing a white powder Jan. 22. The letter was mailed to Chicago’s Cinespace Studios, where the show “Empire” is filmed. The letter prompted a HAZMAT response. CPD says the “white substance” was later determined to be aspirin.
The note was crafted with letters apparently cut out from magazines to form words. The pieced-together message contained racial and homophobic threats directed at Smollett. A magazine is one of the pieces of evidence retrieved from the brother’s home last week during a search conducted by CPD. Investigators also recovered a book of stamps.
The brothers are acquaintances of Smollett.
When asked about the letter in a televised interview last week, Smollett said, “On the letter, it had a stick figure hanging from a tree with a gun pointing toward it.” It also had “MAGA” — reference to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan Make America Great Again – written as the return address.
“In due course all the facts will reveal themselves and at the end of the day my clients are honest and credible” the brothers’ attorney Gloria Schmidt said.
During the search of the brother’s home last week, a “piece of paper/writing” was also seized. CBS 2 is the only news source with video from inside that house. Police evidence logs exclusively obtained by CBS 2, show investigators took the writing sample, magazine, and a “wallet with stamps.”
Chicago police say the FBI is handling the investigation surrounding the letter, because that’s a federal-level concern.
Smollett claims two men attacked him in Streeterville early Jan. 29 as he was heading to his apartment. He said they yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him, poured a chemical on him and put a rope around his neck.
Sources say at least one of the brothers bought the rope used in the incident at Smollett’s request. The sources also say the “Empire” actor paid for the rope, which was purchased at the Crafty Beaver Hardware Store in the Ravenswood neighborhood the weekend of Jan. 25.
Sources said one of the brothers held the rope and poured bleach while the other wore a plain red hat and yelled slurs at Smollett.
The sources say the red hat was bought at an Uptown beauty supply store and that the attack was supposed to happen before Jan. 29. The brothers told detectives the three men rehearsed the attack days prior to it happening. Smollett paid the brothers $3,500.
When Edwards reached out to CPD, immediately prior to this reporting, a spokesperson responded via text:
“We are not doing any interviews or making any official statements until we can corroborate some information that was shared with police. Until we meet with the Empire cast member, we are not able to confirm, deny or comment on any of the information that was released unofficially.
“When this investigation is over, we will have a detailed accounting of the case. While we are not in a position to confirm, deny or comment on the validity of what’s been unofficially released, there are some developments in this investigation and detectives have some follow-ups to complete which include additional investigation and speaking to the individual who reported the incident.”
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” - John Adams
February 18, 2019, 02:41 PM
egregore
quote:
Reverend Al Sharpton says Jussie Smollett should be held accountable 'to the maximum' if it's found he staged homophobic and racist attack
This is even bigger than AOC losing Cher!
February 18, 2019, 02:48 PM
BamaJeepster
quote:
Originally posted by egregore:
quote:
Reverend Al Sharpton says Jussie Smollett should be held accountable 'to the maximum' if it's found he staged homophobic and racist attack
This is even bigger than AOC losing Cher!
Mr. Sharpton, there's a report this Smollett fella is trying to cut in on your business...
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” - John Adams
February 18, 2019, 05:20 PM
sdy
Smollett had hired lawyer Michael Monico (same lawyer who represented Michael Cohen)
Monico said he "was but is no longer representing" Smollett, who is now represented by Chicago attorneys Victor Henderson and Todd Pugh.
Apparently Monico left when Smollett made his Saturday statement.
Pugh said on Sunday that a possible sit-down with investigators would depend on “scheduling availability.”
"we've gotta roll with the punches, learn to play all of our hunches Making the best of what ever comes our way Forget that blind ambition and learn to trust your intuition Plowing straight ahead come what may And theres a cowboy in the jungle" Jimmy Buffet
February 18, 2019, 10:14 PM
darthfuster
Those sound effects during the epic sanctimonious lecture were just too much. I'm rofl-ing
You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier
February 18, 2019, 10:22 PM
rusbro
That Crowder segment:
February 18, 2019, 10:55 PM
sdy
Smollett's crisis management consultant:
“We are not going to respond to every new, anonymous accusation or rumor. Jussie Smollett’s lawyers are in contact with the Chicago Police Department. Jussie will continue to cooperate with the investigation in an appropriate and respectful manner that does not include talking to media at this time.”
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Rep Eric Swalwell (DEM):
"I hope that this was not something that was Mr. Smollett did to himself, or created, and if that is the case, I hope he gets the help that he needs."
February 18, 2019, 11:13 PM
Balzé Halzé
My favorite part of that Crowder segment was the clip from Ellen Page. What a lunatic. Seriously, that girl has some mental issues. Deep ones.
~Alan Acta Non Verba NRA Life Member (Patron) God, Family, Guns, Country
Men will fight and die to protect women... because women protect everything else. ~Andrew Klavan
Jussie Smollett's "Empire" screen time is getting slashed in the wake of a growing sentiment that he staged the so-called "attack."
Production sources tell TMZ ... Jussie was supposed to have 9 scenes and a big musical number in the second to the last episode -- which is being shot now -- but, 5 of his scenes have been cut, and his musical number has been 86'd.
As for the remaining 4 scenes ... we're told he's no longer the focus. The scene features an ensemble, meaning he's flanked by a number of cast members.
With his duties pared down, Jussie will be spending way less time on set. Instead of working every day this week, we're told Jussie's working Friday and possibly Thursday, and he won't be rehearsing.
Less work for Jussie means more work for writers, who are busy making edits. In the past 24 hours, we're told the script has undergone multiple revisions.
We broke the story ... Jussie's case is heading to a Grand Jury as early as Tuesday. Our law enforcement sources say the focus is presenting evidence that could lead to a felony indictment against Jussie for allegedly filing a false police report.
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diff topic:
Why do the 2 brothers get a pass? They were part of the conspiracy to pull this fraud off.
There are reports that one of the things found in their apartment were magazines with holes cut out. Let's see if that matches the letter that "threatened" Smollett.
Remember Tawana Brawley?
This is even bigger than AOC losing Cher!
...