RBP (02-15-2019)
Warning: The posts of this forum member may contain trigger language which may be considered offensive to some.
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it.
RBP (02-16-2019)
The 2 "suspects" have been released with no charges. Based on "information gathered in the interrogations" the CPD has additional investigative work to do.
My take: The Nigerians were told they were going down for this unless they gave it up. Tell the truth and walk. They walked.
Let the games begin.
Jussie enters rehab in 5, 4, 3....
I wanted to be a Monk, but I never got the chants.
DemonGeminiX (02-16-2019), Hal-9000 (02-16-2019), Teh One Who Knocks (02-16-2019)
I wanted to be a Monk, but I never got the chants.
Hal-9000 (02-16-2019), lost in melb. (02-16-2019), Muddy (02-16-2019), Teh One Who Knocks (02-16-2019)
By the TMZ Staff
The lawyer for the 2 men who were arrested and then released in connection with the alleged attack on Jussie Smollett says the new evidence that has changed this case is something her clients told cops.
Attorney Gloria Schmidt was at the Chicago police station Friday night, after her clients, Ola and Abel Osundairo, were released from custody. Schmidt said the "new evidence" that triggered the release of her clients was something they knew and presumably told cops.
Our photog asked Schmidt flat out if the "attack" was staged, and she answered obliquely, saying there were moving parts and she didn't want to speculate.
As we reported, Ola and Abel both worked on "Empire," and Abel was especially friendly with Jussie.
And, something else interesting ... she wouldn't answer why her clients went to Nigeria the day of the alleged attack, but added it was a "great question."
She said she didn't want to speak for her clients because they had a story to tell "when the time is right." That clearly sounds like they have inside information about what went down at Jussie's apartment building.
RBP (02-16-2019)
I wanted to be a Monk, but I never got the chants.
I loved seeing this on the news last night
Those two Nigerian dudes are going to yell MAGA at someone on their way home to Nigeria??
And Jussie couldn't tell they were Nigerian from both their speech and his former INTERACTIONS with them?
oooh boy, this is gonna be good
RBP (02-16-2019)
Okay back to basics. Size doesn't always equate to fighting prowess but I'm telling you...those two monsters get in any sort of tussle with our man Jussie and Jussie would still be in the hospital.
The wrestler Davey Boy Smith once went to court here for a roadside altercation with a father and son. He threw a full grown man 15 feet and damaged him That was the assault charge. For picking someone up and throwing them
KevinD (02-17-2019)
Yes they weren't charged which says everything right there and when their lawyer was asked if the attack was staged she didn't respond with...no comment, I don't know, the court will determine. She said there were moving parts and didn't want to speculate.
google translate - My clients are safe and the investigation will continue.
bye Jussie
RBP (02-17-2019)
Chicago (CNN)Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Chicago Police believe Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate the assault.
The brothers, who were arrested Wednesday, were released without charges Friday after Chicago police cited the discovery of "new evidence." The sources told CNN that 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.
The sources told CNN that there are records that show the two brothers purchased the rope found around Smollett's neck at an Ace Hardware store in Chicago.
Smollett gave his first detailed account of what he says was a hate crime against him, and the aftermath, in an interview with "Good Morning America" that aired Thursday. During the interview he expressed frustration at not being believed.
"It feels like if I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black I feel like the doubters would have supported me a lot much more," Smollett said. "And that says a lot about the place where we are as a country right now."
CNN's attempts to reach both Smollett's representative and attorney Saturday were unsuccessful.
Developing story - more to come
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/16/e...ack/index.html
RBP (02-17-2019)
Noooooooooooooooooo........ really??? You don't say!
Warning: The posts of this forum member may contain trigger language which may be considered offensive to some.
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it.
RBP (02-17-2019)
By the TMZ Staff
8:15 PM PT -- Jussie's lawyer just responded with this ... "As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying."
6:15 PM PT -- Chicago PD's Chief Communications Officer confirms the case has taken a turn based on details provided by the brothers, saying ... "The information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation."
He adds that police have reached out to Jussie's attorney to request a follow-up interview.
Original Story Below
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.
Various sources in the Chicago PD have told TMZ almost from the beginning there was wide sentiment Jussie's version of events were false, despite the party line that he was the victim of a crime.
As we told you ... the Nigerian brothers never fit the profile of Jussie's alleged attackers, even when they were arrested for battery. Not only are they not white -- which contradicts Smollett's claims from the beginning -- but "Empire" cast and crew sources tell us they're very close to Jussie ... and they're pro-LGBTQ and anti-Trump too.
Chicago PD released Abel and Ola late Friday night due to "new evidence" gathered from their interrogation ... and said they're no longer suspects.
The brothers' lawyer, Gloria Schmidt, says her clients were released based on the key info they gave the cops ... and they have a story to tell "when the time is right."
By the TMZ Staff
Jussie Smollett is not officially a suspect in the Chicago PD investigation, despite multiple sources inside the department who tell us he is squarely just that.
We reached out to Chi PD and asked if the status of the "Empire" star has officially gone from victim to suspect. We were told ... "We have some information that needs to be corroborated and verified with the Empire cast member before we can answer this question. After new developments, we've reached out to his attorney and requested additional time to interview him."
It actually makes sense ... the cops are playing the case close to the vest, so witnesses aren't influenced by police statements. As we reported, there was a sentiment early on in the Department Jussie's story didn't track, but officially they never let on.
As we reported, the 2 brothers with connections to both "Empire" and Jussie "completely cooperated" with cops during their interrogation, and they made it clear ... their participation was at the behest of Jussie.
Jussie's lawyer has indirectly lashed out at the brothers, doubling down that Jussie is a victim and "anyone claiming otherwise is lying."
As we reported, at least one of the brothers turned over his phone to cops and there's a call between him and Jussie in the vicinity of the "attack," but before it happened.
There are multiple reports the brothers bought the rope in question at an Ace Hardware store in Chicago.
We're told so far ... Jussie has not agreed to another interview with cops.
Ace hardware is going to break this case. As soon as they place one of the brothers there buying the noose, Jussie is finished.