Chicago sends letter trying to recoup $130K from Jussie Smollett

[former9thward]

Source: Chicago Tribune

The city sent a letter to Smollett through his attorneys Thursday, demanding he pay $130,106 “expended on overtime hours in the investigation of this matter.”

If Smollett does not pay, the letter states the city “may prosecute you for making a false statement to the city.”

“The City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department take seriously those who make false statements to the police, thereby diverting resources from other investigations and undermining the criminal justice system,” the letter signed by Corporation Counsel Ed Siskel reads in part. “On January 29, 2019, you made a police report in which you falsely claimed that two men had attacked you while yelling racial and homophobic slurs.”

Law Department spokesman Bill McCaffrey said the city wasn’t committing to such a lawsuit. But he said the city has “a lengthy and successful track record” of recovering funds under a statute that makes a person liable for costs the city incurred to provide services related to the person’s violation of the law.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-emanuel-smollett-costs-recovery-20190328-story.html

[Mr.Bill]

1. Isn't that offering to let him buy his way out of being prosecuted for a crime?

Sounds like it to me.

[former9thward]

3. He already bought himself out of what he was originally charged with.

The forfeit of his $10,000 bail. I think this letter is setting up a civil lawsuit against him.

[Mr.Bill]

4. But they are specifically saying he

may be prosecuted unless he pays them. That just doesn't sound like responsible justice to me. Either he committed a crime or he didn't. If he did prosecute him. Don't put a price on not being prosecuted.

[Harker]

6. To me, also.

If they think they can prove criminality, they should arrest him and prosecute him.

This approach comes off like a shakedown.

[christx30]

28. Chicago politics is corrupt as hell.

Has been for a century. Maybe favors were called in. Maybe the prosecution screwed up big time, and they are dropping the charges and sealing the whole thing to cover it up. Who knows?
The FBI is taking over the case. We may see some federal prosecutions of the people involved. I love seeing politicians go to prison. It doesn’t happen often enough for my tastes.

[Pisces]

12. He should be responsible to pay the bill. Dont think he should be in jail, but he should have to pay

The bill and apologize for the lies and wasted time

[Mario Luigi]

32. Sounds like it

[Devil Child]

2. Everything about this case stinks n/t

[Mr.Bill]

5. I definitely think we don't have the whole story here.

I wonder (pure speculation) if there's something about the two guys he hired not having their stories straight and they can't be relied upon to be credible witnesses.

[gldstwmn]

36. Agreed. Who the hell knows what really happened?

[unc70]

7. Isn't this why Avenatti is in trouble?

Sounds like some variant of extortion to me.

[jberryhill]

8. No it is nothing of the sort

[LiberalLovinLug]

9. Of course there is the possibility that he is totally innocent. Which I don't see expressed much.

[rocktivity]

10. He had the option of refusing the plea deal and going to trial

You forfeit your presumption of innocence when you choose the option of forfeiting your bond.


rocktivity

[pnwmom]

17. His lawyer says there was no plea deal. They dropped the charges. n/t

[former9thward]

19. Why did he forfeit his bail?

[rocktivity]

21. In EXCHANGE for dropping the charges

which makes it a plea deal and a conviction, NOT an exoneration.


rocktivity

[pnwmom]

22. His lawyer says otherwise. So does the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jussie-smollett-criminal-charges-dropped_n_5c9a4138e4b0a83b0d33d613

“Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him,” his lawyers said in a statement Tuesday, continuing to maintain that Smollett was “a victim” and “vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.”

“We’re very happy for this result and we are very anxious for Jussie to get on with his career and his life,” Smollett attorney Patricia Brown Holmes said during a press conference shortly after the statement.

Holmes declined to comment about the details of the case, saying that it “had spiraled out of control.”

“We have nothing to say to the police department, except to investigate charges and not try cases in the press,” Holmes said.

The case has been sealed, and the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said it had reached an “agreement” with Smollett and his attorneys rather than a plea deal, so Smollett will not be required to perform community service.

[exboyfil]

26. The Kim Foxx who took a call

from Smollet's family. Nothing to see here.

[oldsoftie]

24. But his lawyer, and he, LIED. The office, the maypr & the chief ALL called it a deal.

There's no other way to view it. Do community service (joke; 16 hrs) give us 10000.00 & we'll drop the charges. Thats a DEAL

[Pisces]

13. I have common sense and no he faked it.

[oldsoftie]

25. Really? How much possibility do you give it? Why havent the "attackers" been charged?

You dont see it expressed much because theres no evidence that supports his innocence.

[gldstwmn]

37. His side of the story never really came out.

We heard from the police and two witnesses who said he put them up to it. I don't think they're American citizens either which makes them vulnerable IMO.

[kcr]

53. I agree. The media wanted this to be the the other side of the Trump Catholic school boys story.

And the public ate it up. But there is very little actual evidence that says he wasn't a victim, and that's why they dropped the charges.

[AKing]

11. Turns out that the prosecution has 3 years in which to refile charges. Because there was no trial...

double jeopardy supposedly wouldn't attach. This is per ABC7 news Chicago. Watch the video starting about 1:50 into it.

[link:https://abc7chicago.com/jussie-smolletts-surprise-deal-raises-new-questions/5223062/|

[ripcord]

14. It doesn't seem like the prosecutors want to do that

This may be a way for other city departments to try and get the evidence in this case before a jury.

[clementine613]

16. Jeopardy attaches when a jury is empaneled.

So, yes, Smollet has not been in jeopardy for this offense.

[bitterross]

15. This whole thing has stunk from the beginning

This is just one more oddity in an already over-done, overplayed event/non-event.

I would complete refuse to pay this. It seems like the city is trying to alter the plea deal. That's not right.

[LiberalFighter]

18. So how much are they going to spend to prosecute him?

[former9thward]

20. Nothing.

The money was spent investigating the alleged crime. After that nothing. The Judges, police, prosecutors all get paid whether they are prosecuting Smollet or Mary Smith.

[oldsoftie]

23. Good. Make him pay for the wasted hours spent by the force investigating a fake crime.

Cities should do this more often

[obamanut2012]

30. There is literally ZERO legal evidence this was a crime

He didn't plead nolo, he wasn't tried, charges were dropped. They need to charge him and try him or let it go.

[oldsoftie]

31. The city says the evidence is overwhelming. They cut a deal with a famous guy.

Nobody should bitch when the hollywood types get off with a fine for the school buying scandal

[obamanut2012]

40. Charges were dropped

Not even a nolo plea.

[oldsoftie]

41. Yes. As i said, they made a deal with a famous rich guy. We'll drop charges & keep your 10K

If there wasnt a deal, he would've gotten his 10000 back. He's guilty as hell and EVERYONE knows it, unless they have an agenda. Otherwise, why havent the brothers been arrested?

[gldstwmn]

38. Exactly. Asking people involved in criminal cases

to pay is a dangerous precedent.

[Submariner]

27. He has probably zapped his movie/TV career

These actors need to stay anonymous to be effective actors. Who will want to see him on the big screen now?

I don't see Tom Cruise as 'Maverick' and John Travolta as anything, anymore, I see Scientology freaks. Can't watch racist birther Jon Voight spoil the Ray Donovan show for me.

Now Smollett will be seen on screen as the fake MAGA victim that cried wolf, instead of the character he is supposed to portray.

[oldsoftie]

42. The sad thing is, there will be plenty of people who will push for him to stay on Empire.

Rewarding his behavior.
Hopefully Fox will keep him off the show for good. If not, i hope the show fails next season.

[obamanut2012]

29. Then they need to charge him and try him -- this is a shakedown

What a horrific precedent this would set.

[onetexan]

56. yea everything about this approach reeks of thuggish methods

This is not the way the police should be conducting themselves.

[rocktivity]

33. Mystery Solved: Smollett is NOT a first offender

Last edited Thu Oct 6, 2022, 12:23 AM - Edit history (15)

ThisIsInsider.com: A...2007...California misdemeanor complaint against Jussie Smollett shows the actor was accused of identifying himself as his...brother...Jake Smollett...when a Los Angeles police officer pulled him over on suspicion of driving under the influence. (Jussie) also signed (Jake's) name on the promise to appear in court...

Court records show (that) he pleaded no contest...to driving under the influence...driving without a valid license...(and) the reduced charge of giving false information...The records show he later completed an alcohol education and treatment program and completed the terms of his sentence in May 2008.

So he isn't a stranger to being arrested, taking a plea deal, OR being accused of lying to the police? If State Attorney Kim Foxx didn't have that information, she most certainly should have. Well, now we have the missing piece of the puzzle: while Foxx should have dismissed the charges and returned Jussie's bond money if she thought the cops had screwed up that badly, it now makes sense why Jussie "voluntarily agreed" to do some community service and forfeit his bond.

But as I said upthread, Jussie forfeited his presumption of innocence when he forfeited his bond, and now he can also wave buh-bye to his moral high ground. Game over, Jussie: coffin lid, meet nails -- check, please!




rocktivity

[oldsoftie]

43. The city is also pissed that he keeps walking around proclaiming total innocence & exoneration.

Sound familiar?

[Stellar]

34. Rahm '16 shot and a cover-up' Emanuel sent letter to recoup.

[gldstwmn]

35. Except he wasn't convicted of anything...

I don't know what the real deal is with his case but he wasn't convicted of anything so good luck trying to collect on that. I do know that he offered to forfeit his bail to the city of Chicago.

[former9thward]

39. This is a civil lawsuit.

It does not depend on a criminal conviction. In fact the burden of proof is considerably lower than a criminal case would be. As an example the OJ case where he was found not guilty but found liable in a civil lawsuit.

[gldstwmn]

44. I didn't realize that this was already a lawsuit

It sounds like they sent him a bill. They're threatening prosecution for making a false statement. That's not civil it's criminal.

[former9thward]

46. It is not a lawsuit yet but soon will be.

They can also opt to refile charges criminally but I doubt that will happen. The lawsuit will accomplish everything they want.

[gldstwmn]

47. I see. This whole case is such a mess.

[LanternWaste]

45. Chum in the waters...

certainly sends particular demographics into a wee frenzy.

[rocktivity]

48. UPDATE: Smollet DA Kim Foxx Subpoenaed

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142309531


rocktivity

[Blue_Tires]

49. Does the Chicago Police sue to recoup costs on all false reports?

[Fix The Stupid]

50. lol..

Go ahead, make this more polarizing than it already it is...

Make the assumption that they are only suing this POS because he is black...

This place is an effing joke sometimes. Fantasy land...

[Blue_Tires]

51. You're so adorable when you try to call me out...

You'll have to try harder than this, though!

[Blue_Tires]

52. You still got nothin'?

I'm giving you an opportunity to step your fuckin' game up, my good man...

[rocktivity]

54. UPDATE: Smollet Contract Suspended for Empire Season 6

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2310697


rocktivity

[rocktivity]

57. 2/2020 UPDATE: Smollett indicted by special prosecutor in Chicago

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142432002


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