Police sources: New evidence suggests Jussie Smollett orchestrated attack

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation tell CNN that Chicago Police believe actor Jussie Smollet paid two men to orchestrate an assault on him that he reported late last month.

The men, who are brothers, were arrested Wednesday but released without charges Friday after Chicago police cited the discovery of "new evidence."

The sources told CNN the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Smollett told authorities he was attacked early January 29 by two men who were "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs." He said one attacker put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/16/entertainment/jussie-smollett-attack/index.html

[DRoseDARs]

1. Good grief, the level of psychopathy necessary to do something like this...

Smollet is done if true.

[DRoseDARs]

5. dalton, I didn't see your original message but I'll respond.

I've been reserving judgement on this whole story from the beginning. I was saddened by it initially, but others noticed problems. With this latest development, it's become clearer he has not been on the level. It's sad that we have to hold out hope that he *was* attacked just as he said, but is that because the alternative is so much worse? People who conduct hoaxes based on physical attacks, racist assaults, and rapes aren't well in the head and do real harm to victims who *aren't* hoaxing others. Anyone remember Backwards-B Girl?

[dalton99a]

15. Yep. I remember that one.

I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but things never added up.

He's making things harder for real victims who deserve justice.

[Wabbajack_]

29. I'm not sure that's the right word

Sounds like he may need psychiatric treatment. I think Hollywood and the music industry would be very forgiving.

[msongs]

2. anonymous sources, unnamed people. sounds like gossip to me nt

[brooklynite]

3. Are all the leaks out of the White House "gossip"?

[oldsoftie]

20. The facts of this case were ludicrous from the start. As many here did point out.

And were blasted for ANY questioning.

[Izzy Blue]

6. Nothing yet on who sent this letter to Empire a few days before the claimed attack.

It also contained white powder.
Included in the items that were listed on the warrant from the raid of the brother's house were a magazine,stamps and paper with writing.

[link:|

[orleans]

7. it pissed me off that the news kept reporting this attack as

an alleged attack

& now this? if it's true i absolutely did not see it coming.

[Igel]

9. Why?

It was alleged.

Allegation = accusation.

Allegation =/= proof.

People can lie. People can misremember. People can be wrong. People can have any number of things not go quite right upstairs.

It's why we have trials. To establish the truth. Not just to put the alleged victim on the witness stand, hear what s/he has to say, and then haul the accused off for sentencing without any rebuttal, any corroboration, any questions.

[christx30]

10. Whenever one of these things happens

and makes national news, I always reserve judgment until someone matching the initial suspect description is actually arrested. And it usually turns out to be BS.
So tired of these hoaxes. This does not help. The hoaxers are ALWAYS found out. It makes those of on the left look like fools.

[oldsoftie]

21. And harder for real victims to come forward. Which is already hard to do.

[JohnnyRingo]

13. The news I've been seeing (including here)...

strongly alluded to the possibility that it was staged. They didn't come out & say it because it was still being investigated, but it was clear the media suspected much more than they were letting on and they have a nose for this.

[oldsoftie]

18. EVERY attack is reported as "alleged", even mass shootings; "alleged shooter".

Its just the way its always been done.

[orleans]

25. no.

on friday the shooting in aurora was all over chicagoland tv & radio

there was no "alleged" shooter. there was the shooter.

[oldsoftie]

34. Because he was DEAD. Had he been arrested, he would have been referred to as "alleged shooter"

No rights violated since he was dispatched.

[marble falls]

8. I sincerely hope its not true.

[mahina]

23. I hope it is true. Otherwise, society is sicker.

I just don’t understand why anybody would do this. What would that do for him?

[marble falls]

24. What good, indeed. He was starting to make a bigger splash with his career. Very sad.

[jcmaine72]

11. If true, this is really bad.

How many years has it taken for activists and other people of good conscience to get the police and society as a whole to start taking hate crimes against African Americans and LBGT people seriously?

Again, if this evidence has any merit, a crazy stunt like this would only serve the interests of those intent on rolling back the clock and diminishing such crimes in terms of their importance.

[Jarqui]

12. Doesn't look good for Smollett. Innocent until proven guilty but ...

Jussie Smollett Case: Brothers Questioned By Police Were Paid $3,500 To Stage Attack, Which Was Rehearsed Days Before, Sources Say
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/16/sources-brothers-released-bought-rope-used-in-jussie-smollett-attack/

Jussie Smollett paid two brothers to stage an attack against him, directed them to buy items used in the alleged assault and actually rehearsed it with them, sources say.

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.

Presumably, the brothers got an immunity deal to flip on Smollett ...

[JohnnyRingo]

14. Sounds like the two brothers flipped on him.

Got scared when they were arrested and came clean. Then released.

[Wabbajack_]

30. If their story is true

Then I don't think they actually committed a crime themselves.

[JohnnyRingo]

32. That makes sense

They clearly didn't misrepresent the facts to police.

Guilty of taking easy money from an idiot perhaps, but if that alone were against the law...

[Swagman]

16. and we know these two are telling the truth how?

Got a funny feeling that this case is going to get much much weirder before the truth is told.

If it was a PR stunt- the most ridiculous I've seen but people do odd things,,but so risky if true.

[LisaL]

17. As far as his story goes, he went out to get a sandwich in the middle of the night.

How exactly do you think these two could have possibly known where he was going to be, and come prepared with a rope?

[oldsoftie]

19. I'll await apologies from all those who savaged those of us who pointed at the obvious issues.

Probably wait a LONG time.

The biggest issue to me was also the simplest. A man, walking in Jan cold in Chicago at 2am, is going to be wrapped up against the cold. Not much visible. And two people are going to recognize him. A man who isnt a major star? Possible but not likely.

Now will all those politicians and stars who quickly jumped to this also post their disgust if this is true?

Its already tough for victims of real attacks to come forward as it is. Shit like this just makes it even more distressing for them.

[question everything]

26. Yes, people here tend to mistrust the police, especially in Chicago

Jussie Smollett: Everything we know about the alleged attack on the 'Empire' star

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jussie-smollett-everything-we-know-about-alleged-attack-empire-star-n972626

And, welcome to DU.

[oldsoftie]

33. Thank you.

Been reading for years & finally got off my ass and actually signed up!

[jcmaine72]

22. If CNN was half as partisan as Dotard & his deplorables are always whining that they are...

...they'd spend as much if not more time covering his infinitely bigger and more destructive lies then this pathetic and ultimately insignificant prevarication cooked up by an obviously unwell Jussie Smollett.

[PBC_Democrat]

27. He Played Robin Roberts

I'm a huge GMA fan, been recording and watching it for many years, and I hate the fact that he played Robin Roberts.

I hate the Trump and the MAGA crap as much as anyone, but false accusations don't help anyone.

[Sneederbunk]

28. Interesting that so many people wish he had been attacked.

[DRoseDARs]

31. You need to be *very* careful with what you're implying there...

I can't really speak for others, but I stated my thoughts clearly up-thread.

[madville]

35. I think its a relief that it didn't actually happen

Who really wanted to believe there are racist, homophobic, Trump supporters roaming the streets of Chicago attacking people with nooses and bleach?

[madville]

36. Latest News: Case heading to grand jury this week

Presentation of the case was originally scheduled for Tuesday but has been pushed back, prosecutors will be attempting to indict Smollett for the false police report which is a felony in IL, carries a 1-3 year sentence in state prison. Police have the two brothers in protective custody and they will be voluntarily testifying before the grand jury.

Smollett's spokesperson stated that he will not be talking to the police today. (I seriously doubt he talks to them again, basically giving them more evidence at this point)