"I am simply here to help save the world." That was Jussie Smollett's Twitter bio before he became infamous, and it still is today. It's a grand statement from a television actor and hopeful pop music star. It's so much more coming from a minor celebrity who tried to become a major one, from false victimhood, while ramping up race hate nationwide. After ducking penal consequences with the help of a politically motivated prosecutor, he's finally going to face justice in court for the January 2019 hoax. An Illinois judge has ruled that Jussie will go to trial, and jury selection begins November 29th.
Jussie Smollett
(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Mr. Smollett now faces six felony counts of disorderly conduct stemming from four separate false reports he gave to police. The hoax was allegedly designed to scare up more money for his new television contract and add to his virtue as an anti-Trump force. Before he so poorly faked a street attack, Smollett is accused of sending a letter filled with anti-gay slurs, racist rants, and white powder to himself at his TV show's production office. He wanted more money and attention. Instead, he got a HAZMAT response to the substance, which was eventually determined to be aspirin. A week later, he created the fake quasi-lynching attack with brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo. The problem was that this actor, who is very good at reading his lines, was not good at writing them.
Suspending Disbelief
Believing the report Smollett gave police required accepting a whale of a tale. He said two white men were walking around a gay-friendly Chicago neighborhood at 2:15 A.M while wearing MAGA. hats and carrying bleach and a noose. They recognized Smollett and attacked him with their fists, bleach, and noose, all while shouting racial epithets. When police met with him, about a half-hour after the attack, Smollett was still wearing the noose he pretended Trump-supporting attackers used against him.
Smollett and his allies brutally criticized the Chicago police for not taking the case seriously. So they did. Their exhaustive investigation found that Smollett had hired the two brothers to pull off the assault and had even paid them with a check.
Then police found receipts for the rope the noose was constructed from and the red hats they wore. Kim Fox, the prosecutor, wanted to be liked by Michelle Obama and all the other many famous friends Jussie had calling and writing on his behalf. So, she fake recused herself. Fox told the press she was recusing herself from the case and instead simply reassigned it to a member of her staff, who then arranged to drop all serious charges after Smollett paid a $10,000 fine.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Ms. Fox's behavior was so outside the bounds of what is appropriate for a prosecutor; a judge appointed a special prosecutor to examine the case and her decision-making. Smollett's upcoming trial is a direct result of that appointment. In February, he was indicted again but hoped a judge would force the special prosecutor to honor his team's initial deal with Fox. This new ruling clarified that those wishes wouldn't be granted, and the trial against him would proceed.
Remember that Mr. Smollett is not just another celebrity with a bottomless need for praise and attention. He is one of those who would and has done anything to advance his fame and virtue; he still claims to be innocent of the charges. Fox News reports Jussie's lawyer said he wants "nothing more than to go to a jury" and attempt to clear his name. The man will get his chance.
~ Read more from Scott D. Cosenza.
