Jussie Smollett isn’t out of the woods yet after a stunning new development in the strange case of the actor’s staged hate crime hoax.
On Friday, a special prosecutor was appointed to probe why 16 felony counts against Smollett were dropped in what appears to have been a politically-motivated fix by the highly controversial Cook County state attorney Kim Foxx.
I’m so excited that @KamalaHarris has decided to run for president. I would not be where I am today without her guidance during my first run for political office, and she has continued to mentor me as I work to reform the criminal justice system in Cook County. —KF pic.twitter.com/O241FGKKMs
— Kim Foxx (@KimFoxxforSA) January 21, 2019
The star of Fox’s hip hop series “Empire” triggered an explosion of liberal hysteria when he claimed that he was attacked by two MAGA hat-wearing Trump supporters who strung a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him.
Smollett’s allegations were quickly weaponized by the Trump-hating media that is always eager to smear the president’s supporters as racists and white supremacists as well as 2020 Democrats who decried the “modern-day lynching” of the gay black celebrity.
.@JussieSmollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know. I’m praying for his quick recovery.
This was 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.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2019
But it didn’t take long for Chicago police to smell a rat after numerous inconsistencies emerged including that Smollett refused to allow them to access his cellphone, that no surveillance footage of the “attack” existed and that it took place in the wee hours of a bitterly cold January morning.
A huge break in the case came when two Nigerian brothers admitted that they had been paid by the actor to stage the attack, a development that resulted in Smollett being arrested and then hit with the 16 felony counts.
They were then dropped by Foxx which elicited outrage from authorities over the hoax.
Jussie Smollett's case has been wiped clean. He won't face any criminal charges after he was just indicted on 16 felonies. Police say they have a mountain of evidence and while the actor walks away clean, Prosecutors say his claim of being a hate crime victim are bogus. pic.twitter.com/AM0VqqgGGg
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 27, 2019
Now the special prosecutor will be tasked with getting to the bottom of things.
Former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb appointed special prosecutor tasked with looking into the decision by Chicago prosecutors to drop charges against former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett. https://t.co/RQW0WbNTGD
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 23, 2019
Via The Associated Press, “Special prosecutor named to look into Jussie Smollett case”:
A judge appointed a special prosecutor Friday to look into why the Chicago state’s attorney’s office abruptly dropped the case against Jussie Smollett, leaving open the possibility that the former “Empire” actor could yet face charges in what police say was a phony attack on himself that he staged to get attention.
Smollett, who is black and gay, maintains that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in January. But if the special prosecutor, former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb, determines that the charges shouldn’t have been dropped, he could recommend that they be reinstated or that new charges be brought.
Webb, who was appointed by Cook County Judge Michael Toomin during a Friday hearing, told reporters afterward that he would move the investigation along as quickly as possible. Such probes typically include impaneling a special grand jury, issuing subpoenas, taking witness statements and a final report.
“I intend to expedite everything. But the facts will take me where they take me,” Webb said. “I’m going to start fresh and see where it goes.”
Considering that the Osundairo brothers have not only already copped to being enlisted by Smollett to stage the incident as well as being caught on video buying the red hats and other supplies, it could be that the actor ends up behind bars after all.
EXCLUSIVE:
I tracked down surveillance of the Osundairo's buying supplies before "attack"
Sources say Jussie Smollet told brothers what to buy.
Countless phone calls placed for this.
Visited more stores than I wish to admit. @cbschicago https://t.co/GT6h2g6Y9a pic.twitter.com/ULr3UTDe9Q
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 20, 2019
According to reports, the special prosecutor could reinstate the charges or even bring additional charges against the actor.
Others who should be even more worried than Smollett himself include Foxx and her office who may have been improperly influenced by those with political juice including a former top aide to Michelle Obama.
A Chicago lawyer with ties to former first lady Michelle Obama is trying to block an attempt to investigate her role in Jussie Smollett’s alleged fake hate crime case, @lynnsweet reports. https://t.co/YozSPwVuX7
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) May 29, 2019
The bombshell news is a perfect example that it ain’t’ over until it’s over.