Jussie Smollett

[jimnyc]

Wow, and worse and worse!

---

NEW: Charges Against Both Persons of Interest in Jussie Smollett Case Expected Before 5:45 PM Friday

The Jussie Smollett hate hoax story officially blew up Thursday.

According to reports, Chicago police took two persons of interest in Smollett’s hate hoax crime into custody late Wednesday night.

The persons of interest were NIGERIAN BROTHERS — THEY WERE BLACK — NOT WHITE MAGA SUPPORTERS!

CBS Chicago reporter Charlie De Mar said Thursday that police raided the home of the two persons of interest Wednesday night. Police took bleach, shoes, electronics and more. Both men are of Nigerian descent and appeared on the show ‘Empire.’

Rest - https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...545-pm-friday/

[jimnyc]

BREAKING: Two Suspects and Workout Partners of Jussie Smollett Are UNDER ARREST — BEING HELD BY POLICE

HATE HOAX UPDATE—-
Multiple sources told ABC 7 Chicago on Thursday that Jussie Smollet and two other suspects were being questioned by police for staging the racist sub-freezing attack in January.

Sources said Smollett’s character was being written out of the show Empire.

The two suspects are brothers and friends of Jussie Smollett.
Smollett follows their Instagram account.

And they work out together!
The brothers appeared on “Empire” in the past.





Abimbola ‘Abel’ (left), 25, and Olabinjo ‘Ola’ Osundairo (right) are the two brothers being questioned over the Jussie Smollett attack. (Daily Mail)

Rest - https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...able-to-leave/

[jimnyc]

So "it appears" that maybe these guys are the 2 who picked him up from the airport, and they possible concocted this story in advance.

If he did conspire to bring forth a false report, and get the country into a racist tizzy, I hope they charge him to the fullest extent and place him in a prison cell.

And he also changes his story again! Originally he stated that they said "MAGA country" as they left. Now it's changed to the beginning. I don't think you forget such things.

---

Persons of interest had home raided, bleach found

Jussie Smollett is being questioned again by Chicago PD ... and officers are also talking to another man, an actor who has also appeared on "Empire" ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the case tell us the actor, not Jussie, was picked up by Chicago PD Wednesday night right after he flew into O'Hare Airport. We're told Jussie was brought in Thursday morning for additional questioning. Another man who was with the actor at O'Hare was also taken in for questioning.

The two individuals are being questioned as "persons of interest." Police won't say if they are the same 2 people seen in the grainy image released last month. But, law enforcement sources tell TMZ, they believe the 2 people were at the scene of the alleged attack.

As for how cops ID'd the 2 people they're questioning -- we're told they used rideshare and/or taxicab records to track their locations the night of the alleged incident.

Jussie is on record saying he believes the 2 men in the grainy image are the ones who attacked him.

...

2:50 PM PT -- Chicago PD has confirmed ... the 2 men taken in for questioning are the same men in the surveillance video screen grab. The PD confirms transportation records, along with interviews with Jussie and other witnesses, led to the ID of the 2 men.

...

3:30 PM PT -- Police raided the home of the 2 men who cops picked up at the O'Hare Airport Wednesday night ... this according to WBBM TV reporter Charlie De Mar, who says he spoke to the family of the 2 men. Both men are Nigerian and were extras on "Empire." Based on what the cops have already said, it appears these are the same men who were captured on the surveillance video.



According to the report, police seized 5 bottles of bleach, a red hat, 2 laptops and other items.

The family said the 2 men left for Nigeria the day of the alleged attack. This is consistent with what law enforcement sources previously told TMZ ... that the men left for Nigeria and returned Wednesday night, and the police tracked their travels and were waiting for them when they landed in Chicago.

By the way ... when we broke the story about the various details of the alleged attack, our Jussie sources said the actor identified the 2 men as white. We do not know the skin color of the 2 men from Nigeria.

Important to note ... the red hat may be a red herring, because Jussie never said the men were wearing MAGA hats ... rather, he says they screamed "MAGA country."

https://www.tmz.com/2019/02/14/jussi...-empire-actor/


Jussie Smollett says he is ‘forever changed’ in first interview since alleged attack

Chicago police say they have identified two “persons of interest” in the assault case involving Jussie Smollett, just hours after ABC’s “Good Morning America” aired an interview with the “Empire” actor in which he described the alleged attack.

“After a meticulous investigation with the use of advance technology, interviews with the victim and witnesses and transportation records, detectives have identified two persons of interest in the Empire cast member case. No further information available at this time,” police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. In a tweet Thursday, Guglielmi said that the individuals seen on surveillance tape images released last month “are not yet suspects but were in area of concern and are being questioned.”

In the interview that aired Thursday morning, Smollett told Robin Roberts that he is “pissed off” following the racist and homophobic attack, which Chicago police are investigating as a potential hate crime.

“I will never be the man that this did not happen to. I am forever changed,” Smollett said during the interview, which marked his first detailed public account of the attack. Police say Smollett, who is black and openly gay, was assaulted around 2 a.m. on Jan. 29 by two “unknown offenders” who yelled racial and homophobic slurs, poured an unknown chemical substance on the actor and wrapped a rope around his neck.

Chicago police have not made any arrests and have not found video of the alleged assault, leading some people to doubt his account of what happened. Smollett, who wiped away tears throughout the interview, told Roberts he is angry about the assault and about people not believing his story.

“At first, it was like, ‘Listen, if I tell the truth, then that’s it, because it’s the truth,’ ” Smollett said. “Then it became a thing of, like, ‘Oh, how can you doubt that, like how do you not believe that. It’s the truth.’ And then it became a thing of, like, ‘Oh, it’s not necessarily that you don’t believe that this is the truth, you don’t even want to see the truth.’ ”

Smollett told Roberts that before the alleged attack, he had gone to a Subway restaurant shortly after landing in Chicago, where the Fox drama is filmed.

He was on the phone with his music manager, Brandon Z. Moore, as he left the restaurant. As he crossed the street, Smollett said he heard someone yell “Empire,” which he ignored. It was after hearing homophobic and racial slurs that he turned around and confronted a man in a ski mask.

Smollett said the attacker told him, “This is MAGA country” and used a racial slur before punching him in the face. “So I punched his a-- right back.”

“We started tussling,” Smollett said. A second attacker began kicking him in the back. “Then it just stopped, and they ran off. "

Rest - https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-...=.4f95fab62646

[jimnyc]

The new Tawana Brawley...

AND...

Kerns: Is Jussie Smollett the Modern Tawana Brawley?

Multiple sources have told ABC7 in Chicago that police are investigating whether the attack on “Empire” TV star Jussie Smollett was staged.

Though a Chicago Police Department spokesperson said that claim is “unconfirmed,” two suspects have been arrested who were reportedly close with Smollett — appearing on the set of “Empire” with Smollett as well as recently working out at a gym with the openly-gay, African American star who claims that two men attacked him and screamed, “This is MAGA country!”

If the attack turns out to have been staged, it will be the biggest racially-motivated hoax since the Tawana Brawley case in the late 1980s.

A Fox Nation documentary titled, “Scandalous: The Mysterious Case of Tawana Brawley” chronicled an alleged racially-motivated attack against an African-American teen in New York in 1987. The teen claimed that she had been raped by four white men and was left with “racial slurs” scrawled all over her body. Brawley showed up at an emergency room with text written on her body including the words “KKK,” “n**ger” and “b**ch.”

The case served as a “springboard” for a young civil rights activist by the name of Reverend Al Sharpton, who led the charge of riling up the African-American community and assisting the teen and her family with the claims. The activism included marching in the streets of New York to demand “justice” for the alleged racially-motivated attack and high-profile press conferences to accuse members of the New York law enforcement community perpetrating the vile acts.

The story rocked New York and fanned the flames of racial tensions even beyond the Empire State.

Like the Smollett case, the attack caught the attention of Hollywood stars including Bill Cosby who donated $25,000 as a reward for information on the case and boxing promoter Don King who pledged $100,000 toward Brawley’s college education.

The Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan also joined Rev. Sharpton as nearly 1,000 people from the African-American community marched in the streets chanting, “No justice, no peace.”

However, as details emerged the African-American teen’s story begin to fall apart and FOX News reported that “after an extensive investigation filled with twists and turns, a grand jury found the allegations to be nothing more than an elaborate hoax.” The grand jury found that not only had she not been the victim of forcible sexual assault, but that she likely had concocted the story as a ruse. It is believed that Brawley had simply run away from home for the weekend and — fearing her step-father’s punishment — had created an elaborate tale of an attack.

Although the grand jury ultimately cleared the accused men, severe damage had been done – one of the officers committed suicide from the stress of the case and a race war was incited throughout New York by Sharpton and his allies.

The Fox documentary called the Brawley case “the lie that made Al Sharpton famous.”

Could the Smollett case fall into the same category?

It is unthinkable, but it is possible that this is “Tawana Brawley 2.0.”

The African-American TV star has thus far refused to hand over complete cell phone records from the night of the attack, which Chicago police state has made it difficult for law enforcement to get to the bottom of the case. He also failed to show up for further questioning with police on Thursday, though his representative claimed he made himself available later in the day for a conversation. (It isn’t clear if the availability was in person or over the phone.)

If Smollett staged his own attack, it could be the greatest hoax perpetrated on the American people since the Brawley case, which took place 31 years ago this winter.

Unlike the Brawley case, the penalties for falsely reporting a crime ought to be swift and fierce in order to deliver a message that false claims are not only a waste of precious law enforcement resources, but an affront to every true victim of crime, bigotry and racism in America.

https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/15/k...llett-brawley/

[jimnyc]

Supposedly at least one of them was an extra on Empire. And if Jussie tries to claim he knew nothing.... How n the hell did he claim to the police that it was 2 white men?

---

Jussie Smollett Assault: Oh, So The Suspects Aren't White, MAGA-Hat Wearing Racists

UPDATE: And now those two Nigerian persons of interest are now suspects (via Associated Press):

Chicago Police say the two men being questioned in the attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett are considered suspects.

Department spokesman Anthony Guglielimi said Friday that the men are in custody and have been arrested based on probable cause that they may have been involved in a crime. But he says they have not been charged in the Jan. 29 attack.

Police have identified the men only as two Nigerian brothers.

ABC News added that the two men "have a relationship with Jussie."





***Original Post**

Let’s rewind to January, not that long ago. Jussie Smollett, star on the television series Empire on Fox, alleged that he was the victim of a possible hate crime. He got punched, had poured bleach on him, and had a rope tied around his neck. The attackers allegedly yelled “this is MAGA country’ during the reported assault (via USA Today):

Rest - https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattve...ed-at-n2540628

[LongTermGuy]

[jimnyc]

Now in the OTHER direction... But the changes in the stories, the changes in the RACES, things don't add up - and as time goes on by, things become less and less believable.
---

Chicago Police on Jussie Smollett Case: 'No Evidence It's a Hoax'

On Friday, Chicago Police announced that they had arrested two suspects in the alleged assault on Empire star Jussie Smollett. Both are Nigerians, and one appeared on Empire in the past. Police had questioned them earlier this week. While police told PJ Media they have yet to find any video documenting the alleged attack, they insisted there is no evidence it is a hoax.

"Interrogations will resume today with the two individuals and their attorney. While we haven't found any video documenting the alleged attack, there is also no evidence to say that this is a hoax," Anthony Guglielmi, chief communications officer at the Chicago Police Department, told PJ Media.

"The alleged victim is being cooperative at this time and continues to be treated as a victim, not a suspect," he added. Smollett claimed that on January 29, masked white attackers wearing MAGA hats had screamed "This is MAGA country!" before seizing him, putting a noose around his neck, and pouring an unknown bleach-smelling liquid on him.

Smollett turned over redacted phone records to police, and Guglielmi said those records "do not meet the burden for a criminal investigation as they were limited and heavily redacted," ABC7 Chicago reported. Even so, it appears police have not discovered conclusive evidence that Smollett was lying.

This week, The New York Post discovered a suspicious hot sauce bottle with bleach-smelling liquid that may have been planted at the scene to corroborate Smollett's story, which might be a hoax.

On Wednesday, CPD confirmed to PJ Media that even though the hot sauce bottle was not found at the scene during the initial police canvases and the video footage did not capture the attack, they still consider Smollett a victim.

As for the men arrested, Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo and his brother Abimbola "Abel" Osundairo are Nigerian bodybuilders and aspiring actors On February 1, Abel Osundairo posted a video to Instagram showing him in Nigeria. In January 2019, Abel posted a video to Instagram using Smollett’s song “Ha Ha (I Love You)" as a backing track. Ola Osundairo appeared in Empire playing Chris Rock's bodyguard.

Rest - https://pjmedia.com/trending/chicago...ce-its-a-hoax/

[jimnyc]

Oh man, this case has been all over the place. A regular hate crime, then possibly a false report, then no false report and the suspects released - only to find out they were possibly released for turning on Jussie. Crazy thus far.

---

Police Seize Bottle of Bleach From Jussie Smollett’s Apartment as Detectives Review “New Evidence”

The Jussie Smollett hate hoax officially blew up this week.

The Smollett hoax took an interesting turn Friday night after Chicago Police released the two Nigerian brothers who were held for 48 hours and questioned as “persons of interest.”

CWB, a local Chicago crime blog is reporting the Nigerian brothers, who appeared as extras on the show ‘Empire’ may have flipped on Jussie Smollett.

It was reported Friday that Jussie Smollett hired high-powered criminal defense attorney Michael Monico. Mr. Monico also represents Michael Cohen.

According to reports, police released the Nigerian brothers based on “new evidence” in the case — detectives are analyzing a bottle of bleach seized from Jussie Smollett’s apartment.

While it is common for a person to have bleach in their home, detectives will compare the chemical substance found on Smollett’s clothing to the bottle of bleach seized from his apartment.

Via Fox News reporter Matt Finn: Breaking: Chicago police confirm to Fox News CPD seized a bottle of bleach from Jussie Smollet’s apartment. Tonight police still call Smollett a victim. Suspects told detectives something that requires more detective work.

For context: Smollett reported his attackers poured bleach on him. First time Police tell us they took a bottle of bleach from Jussie’s apartment.

Rest - https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...-new-evidence/


Uh Oh! Latest Report From CWBChicago Indicates Nigerian MAGA-Bros Flipped On Jussie Smollett

CWB has done an OUTSTANDING job reporting on the Jussie Smollett case, and now their latest roundup includes a quote that indicates the two Nigerian brothers, who were briefly arrested yesterday, have been released because they’re cooperating with the Police.



Jussie has his own high-priced defense lawyer now (odd, that), and the brothers have their own, SEPARATE, attorney. She commented yesterday as her clients were set free:

Standing outside Area Central Police Headquarters Friday night, the Osundairo brothers’ lawyer dropped hints that the road ahead may be rough for Smollett.

“My guys are walking home. They are not charged,” Gloria Schmidt said before indicating that the Osundairo’s had information about the Smollett case that was shared with police after some “coordination.”

And, she pointed out, “I’m not part of Jussie’s defense.”

Rest - https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...ssie-smollett/


2 OUT, SMOLLETT AT THE PLATE: Lakeview brothers released by cops and feds as all eyes turn to Jussie

Chicago police late Friday released two Lakeview men who had been questioned for two days as “potential persons of interest” and, later, “potential suspects” in the alleged hate crime attack of Empire TV star Jussie Smollett early on Jan. 29 in Streeterville.

“Due to new evidence as a result of today's interrogations” Abimbola "Abel" Osundairo and his brother Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo were released, said Anthony Guglielmi, the top spokesperson for Chicago police. “Detectives have additional investigative work to complete.”

The Osundiros are no longer considered suspects by investigators, whose full attention is now focused squarely on Smollett, according to well-established sources.

CWBChicago has learned that federal investigators sat in as Chicago police interrogated the Osundario brothers for two days after the men were taken into custody at O’Hare airport on Wednesday evening. The Osundiros flew into the airport minutes earlier, returning from a trip to Nigeria that began hours after Smollett reported being attacked.

The brothers, who have a relationship with Smollett and served as extras on his TV show, saw their status with police evolve from “potential persons of interest” to “potential suspects” to being “unable to leave” custody because investigators had “probable cause that they were involved in a crime” to being set free in the course of 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Smollett has lawyered up big time.

High-priced defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Michael Monico told WGN radio host Roe Conn on Friday that he was representing Smollett “at the moment.”

Federal investigators have been looking into the origins of a hate letter that was mailed to Smollett from the southwest suburbs about a week before he reported being attacked. The mailing, which contained a white powder that reportedly turned out to be Tylenol, mentioned Smollett by name and included anti-black and anti-gay slurs as well as a stick figure bound in a noose. Its return address was “MAGA,” a reference to President Donald Trump’s 2016 “Make America Great Again” slogan. Many of the elements of the letter were reflected in the details of the attack that Smollett gave to police.

The actor has been outspoken about his displeasure with Trump, most recently telling Good Morning America that he believed that his opposition to Trump may have been a motivating factor for his purported attackers.

“I come really, really hard against 45,” he said. “I come really, really hard against his administration and I don’t hold my tongue.”

But, in a case of misery making strange bedfellows, Smollett’s new attorney, Monico, also represents Michael Cohen, the former long-time personal attorney for the president.

Rest - https://www.cwbchicago.com/2019/02/2...-lakeview.html

[Abbey Marie]

Meanwhile, the police waste time that could be much better put to use catching actual criminals.
I understand Chicago has a few...

[jimnyc]

If this does in fact turn out to be another Tawana Brawley case - "a fake rape case" - a fake and false report case - a hate case meant to drum up sympathy for him, and hatred towards the Trump camp in addition...

From a celebrity no less.

If true? Double his sentence.

If true, only a real scumbag would do such a thing, to draw up hatred - someone who HAS pure hatred in his heart.

---

Nigerian Bros Purchased the Rope Found Around Jussie Smollett’s Neck From Ace Hardware – Smollett May Have Paid Them to Perform Scheme

BREAKING NEWS.

Fox 32 reporter Rafer Weigel said Saturday afternoon that Chicago police sources confirmed detectives were able to show that the Nigerian brothers who were “persons of interest” and questioned by police, bought the rope found around Jussie Smollett’s neck at Ace hardware.

Jussie Smollett alleged two white Trump supporters violently attacked him at 2 AM in the streets of Chicago when he was walking home from Subway with a sandwich in his hand.

Smollett told police the attackers were white and hurled homophobic and racial slurs at him while they beat him, poured bleach on him then put a noose around his neck.

Strangely, Mr. Smollett still had the rope around his neck when the police arrived to his apartment to take a report of the attack.

According to Rafer Weigel, the Nigerian brothers agreed to cooperate with police after the police threatened to charge them with battery.

“There are unconfirmed reports that Smollett paid the two brothers to perform the alleged scheme,” Rafer Weigel reported.



The Smollett hoax took an interesting turn Friday night after Chicago Police released the two Nigerian brotherswho were held for 48 hours and questioned as “persons of interest.”

CWB, a local Chicago crime blog is reporting the Nigerian brothers, who appeared as extras on the show ‘Empire’ may have flipped on Jussie Smollett.

It was reported Friday that Jussie Smollett hired high-powered criminal defense attorney Michael Monico. Mr. Monico also represents Michael Cohen.

According to reports, police released the Nigerian brothers based on “new evidence” in the case — detectives are also analyzing a bottle of bleach seized from Jussie Smollett’s apartment.

Another hate hoax goes up in smoke!

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...erform-scheme/


DEVELOPING: Chicago Police “Eager” to Speak to Jussie Smollett Again “Urgently” – No Longer Considered “Victim” in Case?

-Hate hoax update-

Chicago police are eager to speak with Jussie Smollett and the police are no longer commenting on whether Smollett is still considered a “victim” in the case.

“We have been in touch with Smollett’s attorneys. We contacted his attorneys last night after interrogation for a meeting. We made our intentions clear.” Police spox Anthony Gugliemi told ABC News.

“Anthony Gugliemi [Chicago police spox] would not comment on whether Smollett is still being considered a “victim” in the investigation,” ABC 7 Chicago reported.



Until Saturday evening, the Chicago police department made it very clear that Jussie Smollett was still considered a “victim” in the case.

That the Chicago police spokesman is no longer commenting on whether Mr. Smollett is still considered a victim is very telling.

-REWIND-

Fox 32 reporter Rafer Weigel said Saturday afternoon that Chicago police sources confirmed detectives were able to show that the Nigerian brothers who were “persons of interest” and questioned by police, bought the rope found around Jussie Smollett’s neck at Ace hardware.

Smollett told police the attackers were white and hurled homophobic and racial slurs at him while they beat him, poured bleach on him then put a noose around his neck.

Strangely, Mr. Smollett still had the rope around his neck when the police arrived to his apartment to take a report of the attack.

According to Rafer Weigel, the Nigerian brothers agreed to cooperate with police after the police threatened to charge them with battery.

The Smollett hoax took an interesting turn Friday night after Chicago Police released the two Nigerian brotherswho were held for 48 hours and questioned as “persons of interest.”

It was reported Friday that Jussie Smollett hired high-powered criminal defense attorney Michael Monico. Mr. Monico also represents Michael Cohen.

According to reports, detectives are also analyzing a bottle of bleach seized from Jussie Smollett’s apartment.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...ictim-in-case/

[jimnyc]

And now the police are more involved and are thinking he paid someone to stage this attack.

So if so, what was his goal? To gain sympathy? With all of his tweets towards Trump over time, was his goal to make it seem like "MAGA" people attacked him? Was this politically motivated?

---

Report: Chicago Police Believe Jussie Smollett Paid Two Men to Stage Attack

The Chicago Police Department believe Empire actor Jussie Smollett staged an attack on himself last month, according to a report.

“Chicago Police believe Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate the assault. The sources tell CNN that the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement,” tweeted CNN crime and justice reporter Shimon Prokupecz Saturday evening.
Earlier Saturday, Fox 32 Chicago’s Rafer Weigel, citing several police sources, reported Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo — the two Nigerian brothers arrested and later questioned by police about the alleged incident — purchased the rope found around the actor’s neck the night of the alleged attack at an ACE hardware store.

The dramatic developments come after Chicago police released the two men, citing to “new evidence” obtained in their interrogations.

“Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” said Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

In a phone interview with New York Times reporter Sopan Deb, Guglielmi would not confirm Weigel’s report, but did say, “After we spoke to the former suspects last night, detectives reached out to Jussie Smollett’s attorneys and expressed interest that we need to talk to him again.”

On Wednesday, the Osundairo brothers were arrested by police at O’Hare Airport after returning from a trip to Nigeria to visit family, and brought in for questioning. The brothers were reportedly spotted on surveillance footage in the Chicago neighborhood where the alleged incident occurred. Gloria Schmidt, an attorney for the brothers had told CBS 2 that her clients could be charged on Friday. “They were actually detained at customs at O’Hare airport yesterday around 5:45 p.m.,” Schmidt said. “They had no idea what was going on, and they’ve been detained since then.”

“When they first learned about what happened to him they were horrified. This is someone they know. This is someone they’ve worked with, so they don’t want to see somebody go through that,” she continued.

The lawyer confirmed the Osundairos had been extras on Empire and went to the gym with Smollett.

Smollett, who is black and gay, has said two masked men shouting racial and anti-gay slurs and “This is MAGA country!” beat him and looped a rope around his neck early on January 29 before fleeing the scene. He said they also poured some kind of chemical on him. Smollett, 36, said he was out getting food at a Subway sandwich shop in downtown Chicago when the attack occurred.

Smollett has maintained that he has been truthful about the incident, contending his story has not changed since it took place. “I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level,” the actor said in a statement to ESSENCE magazine. “Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served.”

Michael Monico, the high-powered criminal defense attorney representing longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, revealed Thursday that he is also representing Smollett, a sign the actor-singer may be gearing up for a major legal battle.

In his first interview since the alleged attack, Smollett told ABC’s Good Morning America he was targeted due to his outspokenness against President Donald Trump and his administration. “I come really, really hard against 45. I come really hard against his administration. I don’t hold my tongue,” he told interviewer Robin Roberts.

The alleged encounter spurred Democrat presidential contenders and score of Hollywood celebrities to condemn the attack — for which many of those entertainment and politic figures blamed President Donald Trump.

“The racist and homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett is a horrific instance of the surging hostility toward minorities around the country. We must come together to eradicate all forms of bigotry and violence,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said of the alleged attack.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) commended the alleged assault, describing it as an “attempted modern day lynching.”

“No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate,” she said.

In response to the alleged attack, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) had even called on the House to pass legislation that would designate lynching a federal hate crime — re-upping the bill, which passed the Senate in December.

[jimnyc]

Chicago Police Now View Jussie Smollett as ‘Active Participant’ in Alleged Assault

The Chicago Police Department is no longer looking at Empire star Jussie Smollett as a victim in his alleged assault — but rather an “active participant.”

Smollett has also retained two criminal defense attorneys as his claims about being attacked by “Trump supporters” continues to crumble.

“The new direction of the investigation is now based on the premise that Mr. Smollett was an active participant in the incident,” a law enforcement source close to the situation told Deadline.

Two brothers who knew Smollett and were originally brought in for the assault have told police that they were paid by the actor to stage the attack. The police department said in a statement that “due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete.”

The brothers agreed to work with police after being threatened with charges.

“The two men in question are Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, who were released by authorities at 9 PM Chicago time after being arrest and held without charge by the police for 48 hours. Chicago detectives are now following the lead that the brothers purchased the rope that was placed around Smollett’s neck in the early hours of January 20 when he was supposedly attacked by two men screaming racist and homophobic slurs,” Deadline reports.

Following the brothers being released, police told ABC News that they have new information that “could change the story entirely.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...leged-assault/

[jimnyc]

Seems like for the most part that things are caving in from all angles.

---

CNN: Chicago Police Believe Jussie Smollett Orchestrated Fake MAGA Attack

CNN reported Saturday night that Chicago Police now believe that actor Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate an alleged assault on him. He said his assailants wore MAGA hats.

Two brothers who were arrested Wednesday were released without charges Friday after Chicago police cited the discovery of "new evidence." CNN reported that the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement. He allegedly

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.

CNN said its sources said that there are records that show the two brothers purchased the rope found around Smollett's neck at an Ace Hardware store in Chicago.

Earlier story:

Chicago police released without charges two Nigerian brothers arrested on suspicion of assaulting "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett and said they have new evidence to investigate as a result of questioning them.

"The individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a brief statement late Friday.

He gave no details of the new evidence.

Smollett, who is black and gay, has said two masked men shouting racial and anti-gay slurs and "This is MAGA country!" beat him and looped a rope around his neck early on Jan. 29 before running away. He said they also poured some kind of chemical on him.

Smollett, 36, said he was out getting food at a Subway sandwich shop in downtown Chicago when the attack happened.

A spokeswoman for Smollett said she had no comment on the release of the two men Friday.

The two men, identified only as Nigerian brothers, were picked up at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on Wednesday on their return from Nigeria after police learned at least one worked on "Empire," Guglielmi said. He said he did not know what the man's job was.

Guglielmi also said police searched the Chicago apartment where the men lived. But he said he had no information on what was found.

Police have said they found no surveillance video of an attack but continue to look. Investigators also said they were contacting stores in the hope of finding out who bought the rope that was around Smollett's neck.

Rest - https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ju.../16/id/903080/

[jimnyc]

Brothers say Jussie Smollett paid them to participate in alleged attack, source says

The two Nigerian brothers arrested in connection with the assault on "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett are no longer suspects in the attack. They're now cooperating with police.

A source close to the investigation confirms to CBS News the brothers told detectives Smollett paid them to participate in the alleged attack on January 29 and that they purchased the rope — which was found around Smollett's neck — at a nearby hardware store. The source said detectives have evidence to corroborate the sale, something the men's attorney alluded to Friday night.

"New evidence that was brought to their attention, obviously I had it, my clients had it," said Gloria Schmidt, the brothers' attorney.

The Chicago Police Department released a statement Saturday night saying information from the brothers had "shifted the trajectory of the investigation."

"We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. We've reached out to the Empire cast member's attorney to request a follow-up interview."

Police said the two men — identified as Ola and Abel Osundairo — were captured on surveillance video at the time that Smollett said he was attacked.

Rest - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jussie-...ys-2019-02-16/


Jussie Smollett
Reportedly Paid Brothers to stage 'attack'

Jussie Smollett has turned from a presumed victim to suspect in the criminal investigation into the alleged racist, homophobic attack, and sources say there is mounting evidence the 2 brothers who were arrested and subsequently released were acting at Jussie's behest and reportedly paid.

Our sources say the brothers -- both of whom worked on the "Empire" set -- "completely cooperated" with Chicago cops during their interrogation over the last few days.

One law enforcement source tells TMZ at least one of the brothers turned over his phone and there is a call between him and Jussie in the vicinity of the "attack," but before it happened.

CNN is reporting the brothers purchased what looks like the rope Jussie had around his neck at a Chicago Ace Hardware store. CNN is also citing law enforcement sources saying Jussie paid the brothers to orchestrate the phony assault.

Rest - https://www.tmz.com/2019/02/16/jussi...uspect-staged/


Jussie Smollett Viewed As “Active Participant” By Cops In Alleged Assault

(UPDATED with Chicago PD statement) BREAKING: The focus of the Chicago Police department’s probe into the alleged assault of Jussie Smollett almost three weeks ago has shifted – to the Empire star himself.

“The new direction of the investigation is now based on the premise that Mr. Smollett was an active participant in the incident,” a law enforcement source close to the situation told Deadline today.

“We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation,” a Chicago PD statement late Saturday declared. “We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.”

Lawyers for Smollett have been contacted by law enforcement in the last several hours with a request that the actor resubmit to questioning by detectives, I also hear. In anticipation of such requests, the Empire star has in recent days retained attorneys Victor P. Henderson and Todd Pugh. The Chicago-based lawyers specialize in criminal defense.

Today’s new “trajectory” statement is the first update on the case from the department’s remarks last night that “due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete.”

This comes as CNN is reporting that sources in the Chicago PD tell them that the actor who plays the openly gay Jamal Lyon on the hit Fox drama “paid two men to orchestrate the assault.”

The two men in question are Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo.

Rest - https://deadline.com/2019/02/jussie-...re-1202559032/

[jimnyc]

With actual numbers that were supposedly paid out, it sounds as if they know perhaps more about this case than letting on?

These guys bought the noose. Jussie paid them a lot of money in advance. These guys were arrested. They didn't like the sound of jail, and ratted out in a heartbeat.

Look back a long while back and you'll see that I liked this show and Jussie! I can't believe he's going to possibly go from celebrity to overnight dirtbag for trying to pull this scumbaggery.

---

Report: Chicago Police Believe Jussie Smollett Paid Two Men to Stage Attack

The Chicago Police Department believe Empire actor Jussie Smollett staged an attack on himself last month, according to a report.
“Chicago Police believe Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate the assault. The sources tell CNN that the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement,” tweeted CNN crime and justice reporter Shimon Prokupecz Saturday evening.

Earlier Saturday, Fox 32 Chicago’s Rafer Weigel, citing several police sources, reported Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo — the two Nigerian brothers arrested and later questioned by police about the alleged incident — purchased the rope found around the actor’s neck the night of the alleged attack at an ACE hardware store.

CBS Chicago’s Charlie De Mar reports at least one of the brothers bought the rope at Craft Beaver hardware store the weekend of January 25th. The rope was purchased at the direction of Smollett, De Mar, citing sources, added.

https://twitter.com/CharlieDeMar/sta...33982481117184

Further, the brothers were paid $3,500 before traveling to Nigeria and promised an extra $500 upon their return, according to De Mar.

The dramatic developments come after Chicago police released the two men, citing to “new evidence” obtained in their interrogations. “Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” said Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

In a phone interview with New York Times reporter Sopan Deb, Guglielmi would not confirm Weigel’s report, but did say, “After we spoke to the former suspects last night, detectives reached out to Jussie Smollett’s attorneys and expressed interest that we need to talk to him again.”

On Wednesday, the Osundairo brothers were arrested by police at O’Hare Airport after returning from a trip to Nigeria to visit family, and brought in for questioning. The brothers were reportedly spotted on surveillance footage in the Chicago neighborhood where the alleged incident occurred. Gloria Schmidt, an attorney for the brothers had told CBS 2 that her clients could be charged on Friday. “They were actually detained at customs at O’Hare airport yesterday around 5:45 p.m.,” Schmidt said. “They had no idea what was going on, and they’ve been detained since then.”

“When they first learned about what happened to him they were horrified. This is someone they know. This is someone they’ve worked with, so they don’t want to see somebody go through that,” she continued.

The lawyer confirmed the Osundairos had been extras on Empire and went to the gym with Smollett.

Smollett, who is black and gay, has said two masked men shouting racial and anti-gay slurs and “This is MAGA country!” beat him and looped a rope around his neck early on January 29 before fleeing the scene. He said they also poured some kind of chemical on him. Smollett, 36, said he was out getting food at a Subway sandwich shop in downtown Chicago when the attack occurred.

Smollett has maintained that he has been truthful about the incident, contending his story has not changed since it took place. “I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level,” the actor said in a statement to ESSENCE magazine. “Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served.”

Michael Monico, the high-powered criminal defense attorney representing longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, revealed Thursday that he is also representing Smollett, a sign the actor-singer may be gearing up for a major legal battle.

In his first interview since the alleged attack, Smollett told ABC’s Good Morning America he was targeted due to his outspokenness against President Donald Trump and his administration. “I come really, really hard against 45. I come really hard against his administration. I don’t hold my tongue,” he told Robin Roberts in a sitdown that aired Friday.

The alleged encounter spurred Democrat presidential contenders and score of Hollywood celebrities to condemn the attack — for which many of those entertainment and politic figures blamed President Donald Trump.

Reacting to the alleged incident, comedian Billy Eichner tweeted: “Heartbroken and furious reading about the attack on @JussieSmollett. I want Trump and all MAGA lunatics to burn in Hell.”

“The racist and homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett is a horrific instance of the surging hostility toward minorities around the country. We must come together to eradicate all forms of bigotry and violence,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said of the alleged attack.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) commended the alleged assault, describing it as an “attempted modern day lynching.”

“No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate,” she said.

In response to the alleged attack, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) had even called on the House to pass legislation that would designate lynching a federal hate crime — re-upping the bill, which passed the Senate in December.

President Trump also weighed in on the matter, calling the alleged attack “horrible,” adding that “It doesn’t get worse,”

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainm...-stage-attack/