Jussie Smollet Trial

William Parcher

Show me the monkey!
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So.....this is the noose?
It's hard to believe that they used the entire 50 foot roll of clothesline with most of it still in the factory coil.

I had imagined a much shorter length with an actual hangman's knot. The original leaked reports said that it was brand new clothesline and pristine straight from the package. It was also said to be tied more like a Windsor knot.

But now seeing this, it's more ridiculous than anything. This rope is like the poison powder letter. Both are a satire of an actual threat.

Like an "armed robbery" using a pointed index finger and the thumb sticking up. What's that? The hammer and the barrel, stupid!



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Posted By: zooterkin
 

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that they were trying to do exactly what I stated they would try. that's all. seemed pretty self explanatory since I highlighted the sentence that confirms it. not sure what you're getting at.
 
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that they were trying to do exactly what I stated they would try. that's all. seemed pretty self explanatory since I highlighted the sentence that confirms it. not sure what you're getting at.

I don't think it's clear they were trying what you said they would try.

It seems like the writers were thinking about it, and then the showrunner said it wasn't going to happen.
 
It's hard to believe that they used the entire 50 foot roll of clothesline with most of it still in the factory coil.

I had imagined a much shorter length with an actual hangman's knot. The original leaked reports said that it was brand new clothesline and pristine straight from the package. It was also said to be tied more like a Windsor knot.

But now seeing this, it's more ridiculous than anything. This rope is like the poison powder letter. Both are a satire of an actual threat.

Like an "armed robbery" using a pointed index finger and the thumb sticking up. What's that? The hammer and the barrel, stupid!

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I'm thinking they had a thought " a noose isn't really a weapon is it? Maybe we need to make it look like a....tactical noose? Like something a grand wizard would carry around for combat lynchings."
 
'breaking ideas' requires effort = trying.

Okay, sure.

I was thinking of something more along the lines of a formal strategy by the producers. "We're going to try to keep him on, but if there's too much backlash, we'll go with plan B."

Very different from, "yeah the writers have been kicking around some ideas, but the truth is it's never gonna happen."
 
It's hard to believe that they used the entire 50 foot roll of clothesline with most of it still in the factory coil.

I had imagined a much shorter length with an actual hangman's knot. The original leaked reports said that it was brand new clothesline and pristine straight from the package. It was also said to be tied more like a Windsor knot.

But now seeing this, it's more ridiculous than anything. This rope is like the poison powder letter. Both are a satire of an actual threat.

Like an "armed robbery" using a pointed index finger and the thumb sticking up. What's that? The hammer and the barrel, stupid!
The entire right side of the picture has dozens of hangman's knots!!!111!! kinda sorta
 
Allegedly the person who made the 911 call worked for Smollett.

Previously I had been thinking that maybe Condo Guy ruined the entire thing by calling the cops instead of just commiserating with Smollett.

But there's an alternate hypothesis, that Smollett wanted Condo Guy to make the 911 call so that Smollett himself wouldn't be on the hook for filing a false police report. "I never called 911! My assistant friend? Yeah, I guess he must have misunderstood what was going on."
 
Came across this write-up:
The Most Shocking Revelations From the Unsealed Jussie Smollett Court Docs

Among other things, the hot sauce bottle was apparently one of the props.

• The police note that Smollett had changed his story about what allegedly happened on the night of January 29. According to notes dated February 14, Smollett described one alleged attacker as “pale” and wearing a mask. Previously, he told police that the attacker was white. When Smollett was shown photos of two brothers police had picked up for the attack, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, Smollett denied that they were the attackers because they were “black as sin.”
• The brothers testified that they left the clothes they wore during the alleged attack in Nigeria, their native country, which they both traveled to soon after the incident. They also said they filled an empty bottle of El Yucateco hot sauce with bleach and used clothesline for rope during the alleged attack. Smollett had initially told investigators that the attackers tied a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him while shouting racist and homophobic slurs and championing “MAGA country.”
Nothing particularly "shocking" though. It does confirm that he originally said that at least one of the attackers was white, and also that he didn't believe that the Osundairo brothers could be the attackers because of the color of their skin. (Surely there's nobody left who still believes him, right?)
 
It's hard to believe that they used the entire 50 foot roll of clothesline with most of it still in the factory coil.

I had imagined a much shorter length with an actual hangman's knot.

The uptown lyncher prowls manicured neighborhoods with higher branches.
 
Came across this write-up:
The Most Shocking Revelations From the Unsealed Jussie Smollett Court Docs

Among other things, the hot sauce bottle was apparently one of the props.


Nothing particularly "shocking" though. It does confirm that he originally said that at least one of the attackers was white, and also that he didn't believe that the Osundairo brothers could be the attackers because of the color of their skin. (Surely there's nobody left who still believes him, right?)

Black as sin....

Who other than my racist uncle ( everyone's racist uncle) uses that phrase?

We have a racist talking guy who falsely charges 2 black guys, and gives right wing racists a great new talking point. With how things went in Boston, maybe he can get a job as the head of a white pride March.
 
When Smollett was shown photos of two brothers police had picked up for the attack, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, Smollett denied that they were the attackers because they were “black as sin.”

damn that's funny after the gma pony show.
 
Came across this write-up:
The Most Shocking Revelations From the Unsealed Jussie Smollett Court Docs

Among other things, the hot sauce bottle was apparently one of the props.


Nothing particularly "shocking" though. It does confirm that he originally said that at least one of the attackers was white, and also that he didn't believe that the Osundairo brothers could be the attackers because of the color of their skin. (Surely there's nobody left who still believes him, right?)

I must be missing something... How is Smollett not in prison?
 
I must be missing something... How is Smollett not in prison?

The prosecutor waived prosecution in lieu of community service and time served (I think).

This raises obvious questions about what he was serving for, if no crime had been proven. I guess the community service is he worked a book promotion event for an ally?
 
The prosecutor waived prosecution in lieu of community service and time served (I think).

This raises obvious questions about what he was serving for, if no crime had been proven. I guess the community service is he worked a book promotion event for an ally?

I don't believe that there was any mandatory community service as part of the deal. The only thing he forfeited was part of his bail money, I believe. If it was, it was "community service" only in the loosest sense of the word. Not the kind of community service that some people get "sentenced" to and hence mandatory (like picking up garbage under supervision).
 
I don't believe that there was any mandatory community service as part of the deal. The only thing he forfeited was part of his bail money, I believe. If it was, it was "community service" only in the loosest sense of the word. Not the kind of community service that some people get "sentenced" to and hence mandatory (like picking up garbage under supervision).

Thanks, this matches up with my understanding, which is that Foxx basically hand-waved some sort of "well, if you were convicted we'd have to give you community service, but you're doing that socially conscious book signing event or whatever, so we'll just say that counts, or would have counted, or something, and call the matter resolved."
 
But aren't there TWO points of getting it unsealed:

1) Was he guilty? ( yes)

2)Was there some kind if interference/bribery/ chicanery that let him evade a trail? We haven't discussed that aspect. Where are the prosecution's phone records?
 
But aren't there TWO points of getting it unsealed:

1) Was he guilty? ( yes)

2)Was there some kind if interference/bribery/ chicanery that let him evade a trail? We haven't discussed that aspect. Where are the prosecution's phone records?

As to the second question, yes, it seems outrageous. However, under the doctrine of prosecutorial discretion I don't see what can be done about it, save for voters to hold it against her at the next election.

Unless there is evidence or probable cause to suspect bribery or some other crime on the part of the prosecutor. Poor judgment per se is not a crime. A prosecutor doesn't have to prosecute.
 
Smollett served no time. He was never in a jail cell.

Actually, what's your source for this? The BBC reported the following:
Jussie Smollett arrested over false attack report (Date of publication 21 February 2019)

Mr Smollett turned himself in early on Thursday and is in custody of Chicago police, spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

He faces felony charges for disorderly conduct and filing a false police report.

The actor is being temporarily held at the Cook County Jail and has been separated from other prisoners, which is common of notable inmates, Chicago media report.
Perhaps he was not being "held" in a jail cell? If memory serves, he was released later on the same day though.
 
As to the second question, yes, it seems outrageous. However, under the doctrine of prosecutorial discretion I don't see what can be done about it, save for voters to hold it against her at the next election.

Unless there is evidence or probable cause to suspect bribery or some other crime on the part of the prosecutor. Poor judgment per se is not a crime. A prosecutor doesn't have to prosecute.

And if there was political influence involved? Wasn't somebody a former something for somebody? Hillary or Obama?
 
As to the second question, yes, it seems outrageous. However, under the doctrine of prosecutorial discretion I don't see what can be done about it, save for voters to hold it against her at the next election.

Unless there is evidence or probable cause to suspect bribery or some other crime on the part of the prosecutor. Poor judgment per se is not a crime. A prosecutor doesn't have to prosecute.

And if there was political influence involved? Wasn't somebody up the chain a former something for somebody? Hillary or Obama?
 
Actually, what's your source for this? The BBC reported the following:
Jussie Smollett arrested over false attack report (Date of publication 21 February 2019)

Perhaps he was not being "held" in a jail cell? If memory serves, he was released later on the same day though.
The term "held" just means that he can't leave the building until procedures happen. He was processed, mugshot, fingerprints - then he posted bond and walked out. It didn't take long at all and the press waited outside for the whole thing. He was never inside a cell.

ABC 7 News said:
CPD officials released a portion of its investigative file in the Jussie Smollett case to the ABC7 I-Team on Wednesday in response to a FOIA request. In the 61 pages of field reports, CPD detective chronicle their steps in the investigation and their contact with key players in the case, including Smollett.

In the file, Chicago Police officials write that after Smollett turned himself in at the 1st District, Smollett's attorney asked if he could be released from custody if he promised to show up at bond court. After a CPD sergeant told his attorney that would not be possible, Smollett was searched, fingerprinted and photographed. He was placed in an unmarked police vehicle with tinted windows. The report states that "at no time while in the 001st District, was SMOLLETT handcuffed, placed in a cell or subjected to the media."

When CPD detectives arrived at the Cook County Jail, Smollett was kept in the police vehicle until the jail "receiving area was empty and free from other prisoners." According to the report, Smollett asked that he could "be kept segregated and housed alone until his attendance in bond court" - a request that was honored.

https://abc7news.com/whats-inside-the-cpd-jussie-smollett-investigative-file/5220482/
 
The term "held" just means that he can't leave the building until procedures happen. He was processed, mugshot, fingerprints - then he posted bond and walked out. It didn't take long at all and the press waited outside for the whole thing. He was never inside a cell.

Thanks for the clarification.
 
I think you refer to Tina Tchen, former chief of staff for former First Lady Michelle Obama.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/5/29/18644617/tina-tchen-fight-jussie-smollett-subpoena-hate-crime

What actual relevance that has is unclear though. She is now in private practice.

Political connections are political connections. It seems like there was probably a Smollett-Harris-Obama-Foxx axis of influence that was brought to bear on this case. Smollett provides celebrity support for Harris's anti-lynching proposal. When his shenanigans in "MAGA country" start to cause blowback for Harris, an Obama political operative calls the prosecutor and the next thing you know it's all being swept under the rug.
 
Political connections are political connections. It seems like there was probably a Smollett-Harris-Obama-Foxx axis of influence that was brought to bear on this case. Smollett provides celebrity support for Harris's anti-lynching proposal. When his shenanigans in "MAGA country" start to cause blowback for Harris, an Obama political operative calls the prosecutor and the next thing you know it's all being swept under the rug.

Yup. Now we need Foxx's phone records.
 
If Smollett wasn't prosecuted, there is no double jeopardy involved ?
 
Isn't sending prohibited substances through the mail, which is a Fed. charge, still potentially on the table?


Norm
 
If Smollett wasn't prosecuted, there is no double jeopardy involved ?

Since it never went to trial (although he was indicted by a grand jury) my understanding is that he could still be prosecuted as long as it's still within the statute of limitation.
Isn't sending prohibited substances through the mail, which is a Fed. charge, still potentially on the table?


Norm
That too, conceivably, but we haven't really heard anything on that front. Maybe the feds aren't interested.
 
The letter is the oddball thing here, imo.

It seems to be the biggest crime committed during this whole kerfuffle, yet we seem to have radio silence on it.

Typically using the mail that way is vigorously prosecuted.

The stamps are cancelled, so it was mailed.

But we only hear crickets...
 
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The letter is the oddball thing here, imo.

It seems to be the biggest crime committed during this whole kerfuffle, yet we seem to have radio silence on it.

Typically using the mail that way is vigorously prosecuted.

The stamps are cancelled, so it was mailed.

But we only hear crickets...
The letter is a different crime. Committed at a different place and time, investigated by a different agency in a different jurisdiction.

None of the reporting about the horrifying attack is going to have anything to say about the letter.
 
And the letter wasn't all that long ago. It will be five months next week. That's not too long for real life vs a TV crime drama.
 
One theory I've heard is that because Foxx did not properly recuse herself, her office's deal with Smollett is invalid, and he is still liable for prosecution, without incurring double jeopardy.
 

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