16 felony charges dropped by DA on Smollett case ????
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16 felony charges dropped by DA on Smollett case ????
it doesn't align with their initiatives....
They said "his service to community and forfeiting his $10k bond" was enough. BS.
The grand jury even added 15 additional charges after reviewing the case and we're supposed to believe his community service and basically a $10k fine is an appropriate resolution? The guy created a national shitstorm and cost the city what I can only guess is a TON of money investigating it. But $10k wipes the slate clean. Insane.
Hollywood is a powerful tool.
Funny, I read that as. "Hollywood is full of tools."
I could be wrong, but I've heard that the courts in Chicago are kind of busy with all of the homicides and attempted homicides, not to mention the numerous aggravated assaults and other various crimes that actually happened. Prosecuting people who invent crimes to bring attention to themselves in an oddly perverse way seems to be giving the person what they wanted. I had never heard of the guy prior to the faux-attack, and I won't dwell long after this post on what becomes of him after his fame has expired.
Buh bye.
Oh, c'mon! If any of us decided to do a little false reporting with the police I'm sure that the authorities would let us off, too![Sarcasm2]
Best legal system money can buy. MakeAmericaGreedyAgain. MOFO should be in a chain gang cleaning up a highway of trash. Like they do in the deep South. Feel free to misconstrue my statement any way you want.
Cause jails and prisons are just packed with old white suburbanites.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldFogey
Old, white suburbanites aren't generally predisposed to crime like some other demographics are.
People don't normally do jail time (or they do very, very little time) for false reporting. But this rises to a different level. I can see a where not sentencing him to jail would be appropriate...but not dismissing all charges. Possibly a plea to one felony with no jail, large fine and lots of community service. There is clearly a double-standard with certain groups of people and how they're treated by the courts. Smollett is obviously a member of the privileged class. Speculation on my part but I'm gonna say it was very politically motivated. And it's clear which side of the spectrum is favored.
Race, media, and liberal talking heads are powerful tools.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoser
I'm not making a claim to how I think this case should be charged. Just commenting on the often used phrase of "If I did that, I'd be in jail." Most often said by a person who would be most likely to get off and not spend time in jail.
OK...and I'll agree that's pretty rampant around here. Most people think that if one commits a crime they automatically go to jail upon sentencing. As a matter of fact, jail time is likely the exception, not the rule, for first-time offenders committing most non-violent crimes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Fuck...now I have to admit that I agree with Rahm Emanuel on something:
Quote:
After charges were dropped against "Empire" star Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging his own hate crime, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel are furious with the outcome, calling it a "whitewash of justice" that cost the city more than $10,000.
"Where is the accountability in the system? You cannot have because of a person's position one set of rules applies to them and another set of rules apply to everyone else," Emanuel fumed...
Fox News
But, hey, Rahm...what about your buddy HRC?
100% agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck
In an unrelated story, the Chicago PD is getting a truck full of new gear.
And the SOB comes out and does a press conference stating he's innocent.[Rant1]
Hope to see Federal crimes relating to his mailing threats to himself.
Yep, and a cool million under the table to the DA and the mayor (despite his protestation). It is Chicago....Quote:
Originally Posted by 68Charger
Hopefully, Smollet should still have to deal with having sent himself threatening letters via USPS in a different state. I hope he gets the book thrown at him at some point.
If i filed a false police report, I would be arrested. Plea bargained perhaps, depending how much my lawyer cost.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Lily white's would get a pass, due to their ability to pay atty fees.
The just us system is not based upon how innocent or guilty you are. But rather how good an attorney you can afford.
Now if you go to the conspiracy side then this may be interesting
According to USA Today, court documents reveal that Obama’s former chief of staff, Tina Tchen, contacted Kim Foxx, the Chicago-area’s lead prosecutor, before charges were brought against Smollett in February to request that the police department let the FBI take over the investigation into the since-fired “Empire” star.
The paper reports that texts and emails provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office show that Tchen told Foxx that Smollett’s family had “concerns” about how the Chicago PD were handling the case, which eventually turned dramatically against the actor and singer. Tchen, an attorney based in Chicago who co-founded the Times Up Legal Defense Fund, encouraged Foxx to contact Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to ask him to cede the investigation to federal authorities.....
The issue isn't so much $, it's that a single, lone, appointed individual controls all aspects of justice, whether or not their is a jury. And that individual is who dropped all charges here, and setup this actor on a path where he will inevitable sue everybody and profit off settlements.
Whatever you think of people, everyone has biological biases, no matter who they are. It's a product of our memory and our subconscious processes trying to predict behavior of people we meet based on our memory. So when a single individual controls the process, you are at the mercy of all of those subconscious biases - whether you slightly remind them of an ex-spouse or a bad client; or you remind them of their nice old neighbor or "the one that got away", that influences their decisions. Then case law is so contradictory that they can support any position they want to take; so at the end of the day, the judge influences the system to have whomever they feel is "right" be the victor; as opposed to a system based on the rule of law and evidence.
The only way attorneys and $ really play into it is largely the "who you know" aspect, where certain judges will also incorporate their feelings of certain attorneys into their decision making - consciously or unconsciously, as well as the attorney helping to pick the right case law to justify the decision the judge already wants to take.
These are political appointments, for life. And this judge probably got himself a nice little upgrade.
I'd hazard a guess that judge will be retiring soon, into a much, much bigger house.
Except for the fact this dismissal was not decided by a judge. The State Assistant AG dismissed charges before it ever got to a judge.Quote:
Originally Posted by OxArt
I would really like one of those FLIR NVD's. It has a germanium lens!Quote:
Originally Posted by 68Charger
https://www.flir.com/products/zeus/
The PD has bus tracks on their backs and are PISSED. Not sure new gear is enough to bring down the police Superintendent's BP. They were on TV today and were visibility angry.Quote:
Originally Posted by 68Charger
Hey, that's not important right now. We want to bash some judges.Quote:
Originally Posted by davsel
American society swirling the bowl...
News reported this morning that it was judicial origin (judge granted a motion to dismiss, in essence) if inaccurate, media is the blame. At any rate, the judge did grant a motion to seal the case, which is equally offensive. And the prosecutor avenue is just the flip side of the coin, as they have way too much power prior to charges brought in any action, with the same issues presented.Quote:
Originally Posted by davsel
Both prosecutors and judges have near complete immunity from their actions no matter how egregious.
That's what I was thinking when I read this story. I never imagined that there would be so much corruption at virtually every level of government in our country. Of course the Smollett case is small potatoes compared to the Russian collusion scandal revealed by the Mueller report. The corruption at the top levels of the FBI, CIA, Justice Department, Obama Administration and Hillary campaign in collusion with the MSM is the greatest political scandal in American history. If Trump was as great as he claims, a lot of those officials would be sitting out their lives in Supermax by the time his term ends.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gman
Classic deflection/distraction move for the mindless masses of the country. Get them fighting against each other, deflect from the release of the corruption story. Probably see another false flag event soon...
Rich and famous. Different justice system. Socialist communist fascist monarchy capitalist all do.
Therefore I think robert Kraft who ILLEGALLY PAID TO DIP HIS DICK AROUND will be too. At least paid dick dipper is wanting to go to trial.
The problem with letting people off is that it teaches our youth that you can lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead and that is an okay thing to do in this country. Especially if it gets you rich enough to get off and not pay for your crimes.
I would not care if he does not have to spend time in jail, unlikely due to him being a member in good standing of the anti-Trump team and having the right intentions. I would, however, like to see him as part of a plea deal of time served and fine paid, be required to plead guilty to his crime (Robert Kraft massage). He should as a minimum have the honor of being a felon the rest of his life. Perhaps it was something simple, they determined that he did not intend to break the law (Hillary Clinton server).
He had same attorney as Micheal Jackson had in the 90's. Mark Geragos is who I'd want if I could afford him.
But on the flip side, do you want our youth having a realistic understanding of our justice system, or would you rather they have an innocent, entirely false perspective, one that they run to it with expectations of justice only to THEN find out when it's got them bent over a table?Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Every society has varying levels of corruption, including America. The only difference here is we indoctrinate children to make them think their shit doesn't stink.
I think discussing a corrupt justice system is a different conversation altogether, and it would be nice if very public figures face some sort of penalty for breaking laws to the detriment of society. If this didn't spark a huge media outcry and false narrative because a famous person trolled people, then it wouldn't be as big of a deal. Without the media coverage and further racial wedge between people, this just boils down to a dude paying someone to beat him up and then failing to get what he wanted. That is was made so public is the issue, IMO.
Except, it appears, Geragos has gotten himself into some legal trouble himself and might not be available. Co-conspirator, with Avinatti in an extortion charge against Nike.Quote:
Originally Posted by ben4372
When you lie with dogs.....Quote:
Originally Posted by jslo
Ha!
The judge indicated that the case would be sealed but didn't do it fast enough! The PD beat them to the punch and released the documents to the public prior to them being sealed. That Chicago PD Superintendent has balls! Good for him!
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...e-sealed-judge
Former chief of staff of Michelle Obama contacted the State AG in an attempt to influence the AG, based on that link. I have no way to verify that. Left leaning fact-check states no relation to Harris, which I agree it is very likely there is no relation (always distrust most what you WISH was true) most rumors like that are beyond a stretch.
Still, I am curious to see why the COS of Michelle is tangled in this. I suspect it has nothing to do with the Obamas at all, but simply a personal connection the COS has with the family in which the COS is trying to leverage all of her political power (including that she is connected to the Obamas) to get Smellit off the hook.
ETA: And if true, the actions of the COS imho should warrant federal investigation. It may not be as important as murders, but public trust in the judicial system / defending corruption in my mind should be priority #1. Buuuuut it's not going to happen. You Ese! You Ese! You Ese!
[pileoshit]
Facing an FBI and DoJ investigation of Smollett case, Kim Foxx is panicking and changing her story
Quote:
By Thomas Lifson
The fate of the higher-ups who pulled the strongs to get Jussie Smollett off the hook is now in the hands of a dummy who is panicking.
The venerable political machine that runs the most corrupt big city in America, the very city whose gave us the presidency of Barack Obama, is erupting in a political civil war over a case that has riveted the attention of the public. What makes this story a beacon of hope for reform-minded populists is that the fate of the rascals is now in the hands of an incompetent public official who has outraged the public with obvious corruption of justice, and who is now panicking and making huge mistakes because the walls are starting to close in on her.
Quote:
Foxx also had claimed that she had recused herself, but evidently did not bother with the paperwork necessary for such a recusal. Now that an FBI and DoJ investigation is in prospect she and her underlings are scrambling to explain away the lie: Megan Crepeau of the Chicago Tribune explains the mess Foxx has created for herself:
Quote:
Illinois law allows for a state?s attorney to ?file a petition to recuse himself or herself from a cause or proceeding for any other reason he or she deems appropriate.? If the petition is granted, the law calls for the judge to appoint a special prosecutor either through the attorney general?s office, another county prosecutor?s office or a private attorney.
But Foxx, who stepped away from the Smollett case before charges were ever filed, didn?t file a recusal petition or remove her office from the investigation. Instead, she handed the responsibility for the case to her first assistant, Joseph Magats, a 29-year veteran of the office.
After questions arose this week whether she had followed state law, Foxx?s office appeared to back off whether she ever officially recused herself in the first place.
While the term ?recusal ? was used when it was announced she was stepping away from the Smollett case, a Foxx spokeswoman said, ?it was a colloquial use of the term rather than in its legal sense.?
?The state?s attorney did not formally recuse herself or the office based on any actual conflict of interest,? Tandra Simonton said in a statement. ?As a result, she did not have to seek the appointment of a special prosecutor under (state law).?
An internal memo sent on Feb. 13 by Foxx's chief ethics officer, April Perry, however, did not describe the move as colloquial at all. Instead, Perry sent a two-sentence email informing staff that Foxx "is recused" from the Smollett investigation. It did not say why.
Quote:
An internal email from the office of Cook County State?s Attorney Kim Foxx,obtained by Fox News on Wednesday, asked assistant state's attorneys to dig for any examples to bolster Foxx?s claim that the dropped charges in the Jussie Smollett case weren?t as uncommon or shocking as they seemed.
The email read in part, ?We are looking for examples of cases, felony preferable, where we, in (exercising) our discretion, have entered into verbal agreements with defense attorneys to dismiss charges against an offender if certain conditions were met...?
The email added, ?Nobody is in trouble, we are just looking for further examples of how we, as prosecutors, use our discretion in a way that restores the victim??
It was not clear who sent it, and exactly when it was sent.
Quote:
The National District Attorneys Association, which claims to represent roughly 2,700 prosecutors? offices around the country, heavily criticized Foxx in a statement to Fox News.
?First, when a chief prosecutor recuses him or herself, the recusal must apply to the entire office, not just the elected or appointed prosecutor. This is consistent with best practices for prosecutors? offices around the country,? the statement began.
It added, ?Second, prosecutors should not take advice from politically connected friends of the accused. Each case should be approached with the goal of justice for victims while protecting the rights of the defendant. Third, when a prosecutor seeks to resolve a case through diversion or some other alternative to prosecution, it should be done so with an acknowledgement of culpability on the part of the defendant. A case with the consequential effects of Mr. Smollett?s should not be resolved without a finding of guilt or innocence.?
The statement concluded: ?Fourth, expunging Mr. Smollett?s record at this immediate stage is counter to transparency. Law enforcement will now not be able to acknowledge that Mr. Smollett was indicted and charged with these horrible crimes and the full record of what occurred will be forever hidden from public view. Finally, we believe strongly that hate crimes should be prosecuted vigorously but the burden of proof should not be artificially increased due to the misguided decisions of others.?
This is the most egregious part, that he did not admit any responsibility and furthermore claimed his innocence, and that the case records were sealed.Quote:
It added, ?Second, prosecutors should not take advice from politically connected friends of the accused. Each case should be approached with the goal of justice for victims while protecting the rights of the defendant. Third, when a prosecutor seeks to resolve a case through diversion or some other alternative to prosecution, it should be done so with an acknowledgement of culpability on the part of the defendant. A case with the consequential effects of Mr. Smollett?s should not be resolved without a finding of guilt or innocence.?
The statement concluded: ?Fourth, expunging Mr. Smollett?s record at this immediate stage is counter to transparency. Law enforcement will now not be able to acknowledge that Mr. Smollett was indicted and charged with these horrible crimes and the full record of what occurred will be forever hidden from public view. Finally, we believe strongly that hate crimes should be prosecuted vigorously but the burden of proof should not be artificially increased due to the misguided decisions of others.?
Yup... here's a damn clue: if you get some kind of behind the scenes sweetheart deal, don't keep talking shit about how innocent you are....