tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post325899241280730384..comments2024-03-18T04:20:15.987-04:00Comments on Statement Analysis ®: Jussie Smollett: “I’m sorry”Statement Analysis Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607372649929274491noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-76895895380270728872019-02-28T19:50:29.589-05:002019-02-28T19:50:29.589-05:00https://jjwarren.org/travel-like-abram-general-con...https://jjwarren.org/travel-like-abram-general-conference/<br /><br />Travel Like Abram (General Conference)<br />I am currently sitting at gate B39 in JFK airport. It’s 7:30 a.m. As I look beyond the glass windows at the constant clockwork of planes taking off and landing, I wonder how many people know what’s going on in our Church. How many of these travelers are aware that the second-largest protestant denomination might crumble under the weight of injustice and fear?<br /><br />Though these passengers–or your non-UMC friends–may not be aware, this weekend affects millions. It’s greater than any of us; but, after all, isn’t that how God always works–calling us, like Abram, on a journey.<br /><br />Like Abram, we in The United Methodist Church are being asked to travel beyond our communities of comfort–beyond our understandings–and into the unknown. Though the promises of God may seem far-fetched–like Sarai giving birth despite her old age–we are called to follow the God of justice wherever they lead. Abram followed the nameless God and though the odds seemed stacked against his prosperity, he traveled to the new places that God had called him, and he and Sarai became the originators of a new people; them became Abraham and Sarah.<br /><br />Today, it’s our turn. It’s time for us to transform, to follow, and to become what God is calling us to be–however murky the vision may currently appear. Like Abraham and Sarah we must follow God beyond what we understand to be reasonable by human standards because we, too, know that it’s not just about us. My fellow 864 delegates to this called General Conference in St. Louis must remember that though the passengers next to us may not be aware of the seriousness of this weekend, millions of lives will be impacted.<br /><br />Not only will Queer people around the world be talked about (and not with), this conference affects more than us. There are those in the Church who seek to use this opportunity to break away; those who see that God is calling the Church in a new direction and yet decide it’s not where they want to go. And so, rather than turn from the path of justice with deep sadness, they seek to disassemble the Church before it can arrive in the Promised Land of equality. They seek to damn the river of justice, and run dry the stream of righteousness–and take the Church’s assets with them.<br /><br />We are never promised that the road to righteousness is easy, but we are promised that it is the right road to take. May we be transformed and transfixed by the power of God this weekend; may we follow where the God of justice leads. May we become Sarahs and Abrahams; may we be the Church which God calls us to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-25767131331676183372019-02-28T13:03:31.034-05:002019-02-28T13:03:31.034-05:00Mr. Meadows:
“Uh, uh, I thank the chairman for his...Mr. Meadows:<br />“Uh, uh, I thank the chairman for his courtesy. Mr. Chairman, instead of making points or order and going back and forth on this, perhaps a way to solve this is for the chairman to request Mr. Cohen to give to this committee all the foreign payments that he has received over the last two years, whether they’re an entity or a government, because we have strong belief, Mr. Chairman, there’s over nine-hundred-thousand dollars that came from the government of Kazakhstan on behalf of Mr. Cohen, and it it is either the truth, the whole truth or nothing but the truth, and and the rules, Mr. Mr. Chair Chairman uh really look at foreign payments that come from or with foreign governments. And and and the bank he’s talking about is owned 81% by the Kazakhstan government.” <br /><br />Chairman:<br />“Reclaiming my time, reclaiming my time, and then we’re going to move on. Um, what I will take, I would, first of all, let me be clear. Uh, I said to Mr. Cohen, uh, that if he came in here and lied, I would nail him to the cross. Didn’t I?”<br /><br />MC:<br />“Yes.”<br /><br />Chairman:<br />“Did I tell you that?”<br /><br />MC:<br />“Yes, yes you did more than once.”<br /><br />Chairman:<br />“Alright. Um, so if there’s any ambiguity, I want that to be cleared up. I have no problem working with you to make sure that’s straightened out - cause I don’t want it to be a thing where he thinks one thing and we think one thing, and we can we can clear that up. Am I right? Alright. We have a number of members that have been waiting.”<br /><br />Mr. Jordan:<br />“Just on that subject Mr. Chairman, I don’t think we should limit it just to the BTA Bank which has the affiliation with Kazakhstan, I think we should also look at Korea Aerospace Industries, one of his other clients, and any other client that’s foreign that may have some connection to that respective country’s government. I hope him and his attorneys look at all those and we get the —- exactly right as Mr. Meadows wants.”<br /><br />Chairman:<br />“Reclaiming my time, uh we will take that certainly under advisement that you are uh I’m a man of my word uh we will do we will work with you and see what we can uh do to come up with that. I don’t think that is an unreasonable request. Uhmmm Mr. Khanna. Hellooooo? Khanna? Yes, yes. <br /><br />Mr. Khanna:<br />Mr. Cohen, I want to focus my questions on the smoking-gun document you have provided this committee. This document is compelling evidence of federal and state crimes, including financial fraud. You provided this committee with a check from President Donald J. Trump’s revocable trust account which is marked as exhibit 5B. It is a check for thirty-five thousand dollars, and it is dated March 17, 2017, after the president took office. It’s right now on the screen. Do you see it, Sir? <br /><br />MC:<br />Yes, Sir. <br /><br />Mr. Khanna:<br />To be clear, the Trump Revocable Trust is the trust the president setup to hold his assets after he became president. Is that correct? <br /><br />MC:<br />I believe so. <br /><br />Mr. Khanna:<br />Do you know why you were paid from the Trump’s Trust, as opposed to the presidents personal account? <br /><br />MC:<br />I don’t know the answer to that. <br /><br />Mr. Khanna:<br />Did you think it was odd that he paid you once from his personal account, and then he’s paying you through the (scheme for trust???)? <br /><br />MC:<br />I’ll be honest, I was just happy to get the check. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-87042642259993666502019-02-28T13:02:53.600-05:002019-02-28T13:02:53.600-05:00Chairman:
"Form requires you to list your con...Chairman:<br />"Form requires you to list your contracts or payments originating from a foreign government, uh not from all foreign entities. We said we would give you a chance to consult with your attorneys. Have you done that, and do you have any additional information?" <br /><br />Michael Cohen response: <br />"My four attorneys continue to believe as they did before that the language of the Truth & Testimony Form, which I was given and signed right before this hearing, and which requires disclosure of any contracts or payments from foreign governments in the last two years, did not apply to my work for BTA Bank, which is Kazakh owner entity. They advised that had entities been intended for disclosure, that word would have been in the disclosure definition. However, if the committee's counsel has a different view, that I should disclose my contract with BTA Bank, we'd be willing to do that." <br /><br />Chairman:<br />“Um, I want to understand clearly. You are, you sought the advice of your counsel. Is that correct?”<br /><br />MC:<br />“That’s correct.” <br /><br />Chairman:<br />“And your counsel advised you to say what you just said. Is that right?” <br /><br />MC:<br />“That’s correct.” <br /><br />Chairman:<br />“And you know that to be the truth, is that right?” <br /><br />MC:<br />“Yes, Sir.” Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-22259314929442497612019-02-28T01:05:01.178-05:002019-02-28T01:05:01.178-05:00cont.
According to the Detroit News, Tulloch was ...cont.<br /><br />According to the Detroit News, Tulloch was questioned about his whereabouts because he had sent a threatening letter to the city manager and council objecting to plans to raise a rainbow flag at a city park as part of pride events planned for later that month.<br /><br />“That is an in-your-face declaration and will be met with a violent response,” the email read in part, police said.<br /><br />However, Tulloch’s whereabouts at the time of the fire – he was making a deposit at a bank drive-thru – were confirmed and he was cleared.<br /><br />As they investigated further, Jackson police began to zero-in on a new suspect: Joly.<br /><br />According to the Detroit News, Joly told police he bought $10 worth of gasoline the morning of the fire to mow the lawn. When it got too hot to continue, he stopped and went to work at St. Johns United Church of Christ, where the Jackson Pride Center was located.<br /><br />While at work, Joly received a phone call from Moore, who said she had forgotten her lunch at home and wondered if Joly could bring it over to her.<br /><br />That call was at 1:02 p.m., police said.<br /><br />Joly told police he returned to the home and went inside for a minute or two before leaving again. The fire was first reported by neighbors at 1:16 p.m.<br /><br />Police Det. Aaron Grove wrote in his report the sequence of events made it difficult for anyone but Joly to set the fire.<br /><br />“The timeline shows a window of less than five minutes for another person to enter the residence, splash gasoline around, ignite the fire and then leave without being [seen],” he wrote.<br /><br />Two weeks after the fire, Joly was interviewed by city police and two FBI agents. He didn’t admit to setting the blaze, but didn’t deny it either, the Detroit News reported.<br /><br />Hitt declined to offer a motive for the house fire, saying it would be made public by the prosecution at trial.<br /><br />A police investigation report, however, suggests a possible reason for the arson could have been Joly’s apparent frustration with the recent lack of controversy and protests surrounding gay rights in Jackson after the passage of the non-discrimination law, the Detroit News reported.<br /><br />Abood told Fox News on Tuesday that police are basing their case against Joly only on coincidence, on a “hunch.”<br /><br />“It is simply a matter of coincidence and that is tantamount to a hunch and certainly not beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.<br /><br />Regardless of the outcome in the Smollett and Joly cases, experts said when presumed victims of hate crimes are actually the perpetrators, it is “terrible” for social movements, specifically for people “facing real hate crimes.”<br /><br />“Real hate crimes are on the rise,” Graham Cassano, associate professor of sociology at Oakland University, told the Detroit Free Press on Monday. “But as these crimes increase and become publicized, it’s not surprising to me that people would take the opportunity to use this to their advantage and fabricate hate crimes.”<br /><br />Cassano added: "When someone comes along and fabricates a hate crime it calls into question people who have really experienced these things. It's absolutely awful. It really, to my mind, is incomprehensible."<br /><br />The most recent stats from the FBI showed 7,106 hate crimes in 2017, up 17 percent from the year before. Of those crimes, nearly 60 percent of the victims were targeted because of race and ethnicity and nearly 16 percent because of sexual orientation.<br /><br />https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-arson-case-gets-second-look-with-alleged-smollett-hate-crime-hoax-in-spotlightTania Cadoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511272355142175684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-3329350938047207122019-02-28T01:04:36.530-05:002019-02-28T01:04:36.530-05:00off topic
The case of a Michigan transgender acti...off topic<br /><br />The case of a Michigan transgender activist charged with setting his home ablaze -- with five pets inside -- and lying about it is getting renewed attention amid similar hoax allegations leveled at "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, highlighting high-profile instances in which cops preparing to investigate a hate crime end up investigating the supposed victim.<br /><br />When Nikki Joly’s two-story home in Jackson, Mich. went up in flames in August 2017, it grabbed the attention of local newspapers and other concerned citizens in the community, some of whom initially worried the fire could have been intentionally set and may have been a hate crime against the outspoken gay rights campaigner.<br /><br />More than a year later, however, the 54-year-old Joly faces a charge of one felony count of first-degree arson for the Aug. 10, 2017 fire that destroyed his home and killed his two German shepherds and three cats.<br /><br />At the time, coverage of the case was almost entirely limited to local media.<br /><br />Then, the Jussie Smollett story broke.<br /><br />The 36-year-old Smollett is accused of orchestrating an elaborate hoax via two “bogus” hate crimes – one employing an alleged attack, and one involving a threatening letter and mysterious (but ultimately harmless) white powder – all in order to secure a pay raise. He was charged in Chicago with felony disorderly conduct last week and remains free on bail.<br /><br />But Joly’s attorney is pushing back on the comparisons to Smollett, saying the case against the transgender man was never touted or investigated as a hate crime.<br /><br />Elmer Hitt, director of police and fire services in Jackson, told Fox News on Tuesday that some in the community – as well as the police investigators – considered the possibility the fire may have been a hate crime, it's just that, ultimately, the investigation led them to look at the blaze as arson.<br /><br />“It was investigated as arson with the potential, initially, of it being a hate crime,” Hitt said.<br /><br />Joly’s attorney, Andrew Abood, told Fox News that throughout the investigation and recent court proceedings, Joly never claimed the fire was a hate crime.<br /><br />“There is no comparison. In [the Smollett] case, two people were paid by the actor. Our client never said it was a hate crime,” Abood said when reached over the phone on Tuesday. “We have maintained all along and he asserted through four hours of interrogation with the FBI that he did not start the fire."<br /><br />But authorities disagreed. Joly was arrested and charged in October, shocking his supporters.<br /><br />“It’s embarrassing,” Travis Trombley, a gay resident who fought for an anti-discrimination ordinance that Joly championed for years in Jackson, the Detroit News. “How do you do it to the community you have put so much effort into helping?”<br /><br />Joly had been touted for his relentless 18-year effort to pass the local anti-discrimination law designed to protect members of the LGBT community and minorities in Jackson.<br /><br />“There is no space for hate and ultimately, love will win," Joly told MLive in an extensive profile last year after he was named Jackson’s Citizen of the Year. "I believe that, 99 percent of the time."<br /><br />Yet, only months after that profile, officials say Joly traded love for a lighter, starting the fire at the home he shared with his longtime partner, Chris Moore.<br /><br />No one was home at the time and traces of gasoline were later found in five rooms on the first floor.<br /><br />A neighbor, identified in a police report as Robert Tulloch, was among the first people interviewed after the fire.Tania Cadoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511272355142175684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-3287270214665615272019-02-24T07:39:06.644-05:002019-02-24T07:39:06.644-05:00Brilliant Article!Brilliant Article!John Mc Gowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430624388902099338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-24413164507078055512019-02-24T01:38:00.080-05:002019-02-24T01:38:00.080-05:00Jussie, while being attacked said, "ouch! Dud...Jussie, while being attacked said, "ouch! Dude, Ssstop hitting me ssso hard. Maybe you could hit me sssomewhere besidesss the face!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-16558664377176235192019-02-23T17:11:53.951-05:002019-02-23T17:11:53.951-05:00Every time (and it's quite often) we get a fak...Every time (and it's quite often) we get a fake hate case, it's so unbelievable, nobody believes it. But it keeps happening. The punishment for this type of crime needs to be increased. They make up a lie, do some type on light bodily harm to themselves and go on tv, or go-fund-me, or both.<br />Where is the out cry? where is the smack down? This isn't going to stop, it's going to increase.robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-82698964545846522542019-02-23T07:47:21.574-05:002019-02-23T07:47:21.574-05:00You know,
Aren't we all seeing now exactly wha...You know,<br />Aren't we all seeing now exactly what a lousy actor this guy is?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-37448822361427247792019-02-23T07:21:24.996-05:002019-02-23T07:21:24.996-05:00What on earth is this mans birth certificate name?...What on earth is this mans birth certificate name?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-7306077423576035712019-02-23T05:59:07.065-05:002019-02-23T05:59:07.065-05:00Weird embedded confession "The man this did n...Weird embedded confession "The man this did not happen to"New England Water Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04565626449101099702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-54381167507224634212019-02-23T01:25:02.488-05:002019-02-23T01:25:02.488-05:00Jussie Smollett's mother Janet is a former Bla...Jussie Smollett's mother Janet is a former Black Panther, and remains a close friend of Angela Davis. According to the NYT, the family spent Mother's Day with Davis several times. In 1970 Angela Davis purchased a shotgun, and other weapons two days before they were used in an armed take over of a courtroom in Marin County, CA. The judge and three black men died in the incident. After being on the FBI 10 most wanted list, Angela Davis was arrested and later found not guilty of foreknowledge of the crime.<br /><br />Kamala Harris reportedly met with Smollett at a fundraiser in CA for her Presidential campaign days before the staged attack. Her legislation at the time was to add enhanced penalties for lynching.<br /><br />Jussie Smollett's motivation seem political and ideological instead of financial to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-30558412669839616392019-02-23T00:26:39.801-05:002019-02-23T00:26:39.801-05:00Smollett uses the word "this" several ti...Smollett uses the word "this" several times without defining it. Its meaning seems to change based on context.BallBounceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08776039024486455199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-17098685537634277932019-02-22T23:14:50.708-05:002019-02-22T23:14:50.708-05:00off topic
MAKING A Murderer’s Steven Avery could ...off topic<br /><br /><b>MAKING A Murderer’s Steven Avery could be set free if bone fragments from victim Teresa Halbach prove she was killed elsewhere, his lawyer has claimed.</b><br /><br />Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey are serving life in prison for the 2005 murder of Halbach in which she was kidnapped then taken to his home, sexually assaulted and tortured before being shot.<br /><br />The two men then burned her body and attempted to destroy the charred remains, according to the prosecution case.<br /><br />However, Avery is fighting a long-running and high-profile legal battle to get his murder conviction quashed, and his lawyer Kathleen Zellner now claims if bone fragments found at a third location are those of Halbach then it undermines the prosecutor's assertion that she was killed at Avery’s property.<br /><br />Zellner maintains a 2011 report shows bone fragments were returned to the Halbach family, but the defence wasn’t notified, Fox 11 news reports.<br /><br />The Wisconsin Department of Justice has now said that bones kept in the case were returned to the Halbach family.<br /><br />“This admission proves these bone fragments were returned to the family and it is undisputed there was no notice given to Steven Avery or his attorneys and that violates Wisconsin law,” Zellner told Newsweek.<br /><br />Avery is currently serving his sentence at Wisconsin’s Waupun Correctional Institution and continues to maintain his innocence.<br /><br />The trials of Dassey and Avery gained global attention after the release of Netflix documentary Making a Murderer, which cast doubt on the legal processes used to convict the pair.<br /><br />Photographer Halbach disappeared in 2005 after visiting the Avery family salvage yard in Twin Rivers.<br /><br />She was last known to have met Avery at his home on the grounds of his Auto Salvage business to take a picture of a minivan he was trying to sell.<br /><br />Her vehicle was found part-hidden in his salvage yard and bloodstains recovered from its interior matched Avery's DNA.<br /><br />The young woman's charred bone fragments were later found in a burn pit near Avery's home.<br /><br />He was arrested and charged with Halbach's murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and mutilation of a corpse on November 11, 2005.<br /><br />The prosecution claimed he invited his 16-year-old nephew Dassey into his home to sexually assault and torture her.<br /><br />In 1985, Avery was falsely convicted of sexually assaulting a young, female jogger.<br /><br />It took 18 years for his conviction to be overturned and he was given a £305,000 payout in compensation.<br /><br />However, he was re-arrested and charged with Teresa Halbach's murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and mutilation of a corpse on November 11, 2005.<br /><br />https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8486908/steven-avery-making-a-murderer-free-victim-bones/<br /><br />Tania Cadoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511272355142175684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-6220329732814969592019-02-22T23:12:18.787-05:002019-02-22T23:12:18.787-05:00cont.
Smollett, who was treated in hospital, had ...cont.<br /><br /><b>Smollett, who was treated in hospital, had initially told police that his "attackers" were yelling racial and homophobic slurs.<br /><br />And he claimed they made reference to "MAGA" - the “Make America Great Again” election catchphrase used by President Trump.<br /><br />Last week a tearful Smollett, who also starred in 1992 kids’ movie The Mighty Ducks, told Good Morning America he was attacked at 2am while speaking on the phone to his manager.<br /><br />He said: "I was crossing the intersection . . . I heard ‘Empire!’ I don’t answer to Empire. My name ain’t Empire.”<br /><br />Smollett said he heard one of them utter a racial slur, and added: “So I turned around and said, ‘What the f*** did you just say to me?’ I see the attacker masked.”<br /><br />Getting emotional, Smollett continued: “He said: ‘This MAGA country n*****’. And he punched me in the face so I punched his ass back.”<br /><br />Smollett said a second person kicked him in his back. They threw a bleach-like substance in his face and tied a rope round his neck, he claimed.<br /><br />Choking up, Smollett told the interviewer: “I will never be the man that this did not happen to. I am forever changed.”<br /><br />But doubts about the authenticity of the attack were quickly raised after the actor refused to hand over his phone to detectives.<br /><br />Cops were also curious as to why the rope was still around Smollett's neck when they arrived on the scene 30 minutes later.<br /><br />He also asked responding officers to turn off their body cameras and come into his apartment — because he said he did not want neighbours witnessing the scene.<br /><br />But frustrated Smollett insisted: "It feels like if I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black, I feel like the doubters would have supported me a lot more.”<br /><br />His story unravelled after cops arrested two black men with connections to him.<br />Ola — who had worked as an extra on Empire — and Abel were released when officers revealed new evidence had come to light and they were “eager to speak to” Smollett.<br /><br />Cops are now understood to believe the star paid the men £2,700 to attack him and £390 when they returned from holiday in Nigeria.<br /><br />Sources told website TMZ the trio even rehearsed the assault.<br /><br />Following their release last week, the two brothers said: “We are not racist. We are not homophobic, and we are not anti-Trump.”<br /><br />https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8486826/jussie-smollett-drug-problem-claim-ecstasy/</b><br /><br />Let's start with drugs, then alcohol.<br />He will go into rehab for however long, perhaps claiming exhaustion.<br /><br />I wonder what his supporters, who were very vocal when his story about an alleged attack broke, will say and do?<br />Will he confess to the whole thing or try and deny it?<br /><br />Tania Cadoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511272355142175684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-13559758306279695532019-02-22T23:06:07.850-05:002019-02-22T23:06:07.850-05:00cont.
He said: "Smollett attempted to gain a...cont.<br /><b><br />He said: "Smollett attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language.<br /><br />"When that didn't work, Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack.<br /><br />"This morning not only do I come to you as the superintendent of Chicago police department, but also as a black man who has spent his whole life living in the city.<br /><br />"This announcement today recognises that Empire actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.<br /><br />"I'm left hanging my head asking why.<br /><br />"Why would anyone, especially an African American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations.<br /><br />"How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile.<br /><br />"I'm offended by what has happened and I'm also angry."<br /><br /><br />Cops grew suspicious as holes began to appear in the actor's story following the alleged attack in Chicago last month and a tearful TV interview as he told of his ordeal.<br /><br />CCTV footage emerged showing two brothers with links to Smollett buying ski masks, bandanas and red hats just a day before the "attack".<br /><br />Smollett was subsequently charged with disorderly conduct and filing a false police report.<br /><br />Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter: "Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report.<br /><br />"Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest."<br /><br />Responding to the charge, Smollett's lawyers Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson said they planned to mount an "aggressive defence".<br /><br />In a joint statement, they said: "Like any other citizen, Mr Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked.<br /><br />"Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defence."<br /><br />Empire extras Ola Osundairo, 27, and brother Abel, 25, were allegedly paid more than £3,000 by the actor to attack him.<br /><br />On Wednesday they appeared before a Grand Jury - which decides whether to bring charges in big cases - for two and a half hours to testify against Smollett.<br /><br />The brothers' lawyer Gloria Schmidt later told reporters they laid out how Smollett "put them up to the fake assault", TMZ reported.<br /><br />The shocking twist in the case came just days after A-list celebs flooded social media with their support for the 36-year-old.<br /><br />Brit catwalk queen Naomi Campbell — who starred in hip-hop drama Empire — called on Chicago’s mayor to catch the “despicable people” who had committed this “act of hate”.<br /><br />Oscar-winner Viola Davis also shared a photo of the actor on Instagram, saying: “OMG!! This is why the LGBTQ community continue to fight to be seen and protected against hate!<br /><br />“We ALL have to take this racist and homophobic act of violence very personally! My arms are around you @jussiesmollett. You are loved!”<br /><br />And TV host Ellen DeGeneres, referring to an interview when the actor revealed he was gay, said: “Four years ago, @JussieSmollett came out on my show. I’m sending him and his family so much love today.”</b>Tania Cadoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511272355142175684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-56444199362306837912019-02-22T23:05:33.609-05:002019-02-22T23:05:33.609-05:00Now come the excuses
Today Fox confirmed Smollett...Now come the excuses<br /><br /><b>Today Fox confirmed Smollett had been axed from the last two episodes of hit drama Empire a day after he was freed on $100,000 bail.<br /><br />He went straight from court to the TV set where he made a tearful apology to cast and crew - but they were said top be furious at him over the outrageous alleged stunt.<br /><br />Police charged Smollett on Wednesday with staging the violent attack in Chicago and he handed himself in the next morning.<br /><br />During his arrest he reportedly told officers he struggled with drug use and had never been treated, TMZ reports.<br /><br />And police papers say text messages appear to show Smollett asking pal and Empire extra Abel Osundairo for "Molly" - a street name for ecstasy.<br /><br />If he is convicted, a drug problem could be used as a mitigating factor and get his sentence reduced, US reports say.<br /><br />Abel, who worked on the TV show with the humiliated star, and his brother Ola were allegedly paid £3,000 to stage the fake attack last month.<br /><br />Police said the actor messaged Abel days before saying: "Might need your help on the low."<br /><br />Smollett reportedly headed straight to the Empire TV set from court to plead with cast members after being released on £76,000 bail on Thursday.<br /><br />Sources told TMZ that Jussie arrived late on the TV series set and then begged his cast mates to believe he did not orchestrate the hoax.<br /><br />He reportedly said: "I’m sorry I’ve put you all through this and not answered any calls.<br /><br />“I wanted to say I’m sorry and, you know me, I would never do this to any of you, you are my family. I swear to God, I did not do this.”<br /><br />After th emotional speech he went on to shoot scenes for the upcoming series.<br /><br />But co-stars said they feel hurt and embarrassed that he is back after damaging the show's image.<br /><br />Earlier on Thursday, the actor was told to surrender his passport when he appeared in front of State of Illinois Circuit Court Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr.<br /><br />The judge called the hate-crime hoax allegations against the star “utterly outrageous,” reports the New York Post.<br /><br />“The most violent, despicable part of it, if true, is the noose,” he said. “That symbol conjures up such evil in this country’s history.”<br /><br />During the court hearing, prosecutor Risa Lanier read aloud a four-page document outlining the mountain of evidence cops compiled while investigating Smollett’s claims.<br /><br />Smollett, who was wearing a black puffa-style jacket, spoke only to give his name during the hearing as his family stood by.<br /><br />Earlier yesterday Smollett was slammed by Chicago's black police chief for "taking advantage of the pain and anger of racism" to boost his career and earnings.<br /><br />The Empire actor could face three years in jail after he was sensationally charged with staging an elaborate street assault so he could play victim.<br /><br />He has also been accused of sending himself a note containing a cartoon figure strung up by a noose and cut-out letters spelling: "You will die, black f*g".<br /><br />Smollett claimed the note was a threat before two Trump fans in MAGA hats shouted racist and homophobic abuse, beat him up and left him with a rope round his neck.<br /><br />But police chief Eddie Johnson said the actor faked the whole thing because he wanted to boost his profile and pay packet.</b><br />Tania Cadoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511272355142175684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-35865414296624038312019-02-22T19:37:58.589-05:002019-02-22T19:37:58.589-05:00The Turpins pleaded guilty. Stupid smart device.The Turpins pleaded guilty. Stupid smart device.GeekRadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-51596972540004937712019-02-22T19:36:27.750-05:002019-02-22T19:36:27.750-05:00I am waiting for the letter shoe to drop. I still ...I am waiting for the letter shoe to drop. I still do not see a tree. He has knowledge of the letter. I need to listen to the interview again.<br />On another topic, the The line pleaded guilty. I was sure they were going to go with a mental case in her.GeekRadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-54406803643702376552019-02-22T17:59:30.728-05:002019-02-22T17:59:30.728-05:00Is he a sociopath?Is he a sociopath?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-44704927435133789082019-02-22T17:11:36.200-05:002019-02-22T17:11:36.200-05:00I can't get past the way whoever (yrs) created...I can't get past the way whoever (yrs) created the threatening letter took the time to include Jussie's hairstyle on the stick figure. You literally couldn't make this stuff upFmbehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01905443444715424791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-25012858163728080932019-02-22T17:02:41.702-05:002019-02-22T17:02:41.702-05:00"And Smollett thinks the core issue anyone gi..."And Smollett thinks the core issue anyone gives a damn about at this point is that he didn't call them back??? "I don't think that's why he says it".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-27435078743906854922019-02-22T16:43:02.388-05:002019-02-22T16:43:02.388-05:00What's struck me from the start of this is the...What's struck me from the start of this is the absolute narcissism at work in Smollett. How self-centered and self-important do you have to be to think merely being upset that you don't think you make enough money ($65k per episode; ie, a week's work or so) entitles you to this level of response? The contempt Smollett has for every other person than himself is stark. The idea that he seemed to think that this ridiculous hair-brained stupid scheme would ACTUALLY BE BELIVED is laughable. Because he's black and gay, and EVERYONE KNOWS white Trump supporters are on the prowl constantly for black gay men to prey upon... <br /><br />"I’m sorry I’ve put you all through this and not answered any calls. I wanted to say I’m sorry and, you know me, I would never do this to any of you, you are my family. I swear to God, I did not do this.”<br /><br />Reports indicated the Chicago PD put 10-12 experienced detectives on this case. These would be likely violent crimes detectives with 20+ years experience each. In a city like Chicago, I can only assume a violent crimes detective has at least 30 or more cases on his plate at any given time; some 'hotter' than others, some awaiting prosecution, some with additional leads to get done, etc. That means that these 10-12 detective had to put on the back burner a total of 300-360 cases to run down this high profile lie; all while still making court apperances, depositions, processing evidence, Grand Jury testimony, etc, all the things cops also do when they aren't working cases. I wonder how many rape victims' cases weren't worked because of this? I wonder how many of the black murder victims' cases were put on hold? How many child sex crimes/child porn cases were shelved? All because this arrogant self-important ass needed to have us all pay attention to him and applaud him for being a 'warrior victim'... and demand he get a higher salary apparently. I hope the reports I've heard that the city may attempt to recover the costs of the investigation and expenditure of tax payer resources from Smollett actually happens. <br /><br />And Smollett thinks the core issue anyone gives a damn about at this point is that he didn't call them back??? Unblieveable... yet apparently true! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-85171552754515318502019-02-22T16:08:31.759-05:002019-02-22T16:08:31.759-05:00@Autum
We only have the policechief's word fo...@Autum<br /><br />We only have the policechief's word for that the motive should be to get a raise. In the same briefing he said that they hadn't talked with Smollett about the case and it speaks to the strange minds of journalists, that nobody asked the pc how he knew of that motive. It isn't congruent with the testimonies from the Nigerian brothers eather. They claim that the motive was that Smollet was pissed because his anonymous letter didn't get more publicity. The attack stunt seems a logical step up - I can believe that; both done for the "higher course"; to become a hero. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164794708270892518.post-15204974407093983562019-02-22T15:42:56.055-05:002019-02-22T15:42:56.055-05:00Anonymous, I see what you mean now (thought you re...Anonymous, I see what you mean now (thought you reacted to my comment).<br /><br />Martina, I agree. But confessing would be admitting that he is a ruthless, money-grubbing liar willing to endanger others, instigate race riots, take police resources away from real victims, etc. That is not how Jussie sees himself at all. I think he has grandiose ideas about himself as the savior of the "oppressed" black/gay community, the great benefactor who spreads love. He probably thinks his actions were justified because he had the right intentions (in his mind). One thing I have a hard time believing is that he did this to get a raise. A fake letter and attack seem like a very roundabout, cumbersome, risky and unsure way to get a raise. Why not just ask for it. And: he gives away large sums of money each year so there doesn't seem to be a lack of it. I think his motives may have (also) been political. He just didn’t want the Nigerian brothers to know that and gave them another reason.<br /><br />AutumnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com