OK, we’ve been holding off on this because CWBChicago is teasing a pretty juicy story that will be published later Wednesday night, but we’ll just update this post later. In short, CWBChicago has some evidence that no, not every first-time offender filing a false report with the Chicago Police Department gets the Jussie Smollett treatment from State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
Great to see @SAKimFoxx doubling- and tripling-down on her claim that the @jussiesmollett resolution is the way her office handles similar cases. We pulled court records of 1st offenders charged with filing false police reports in Chicago. Tonight, we'll tell you what they show.
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) March 27, 2019
As the TV news people say, "the answer may surprise you."
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But probably won't in this case. https://t.co/V3McmKXUez— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) March 27, 2019
But check this out: it looks like Foxx’s office is scrambling to find other examples of similar cases. “Nobody is in trouble” — they’d just really appreciate it if anyone with any evidence to back up Foxx’s claim would share it.
Here's an internal email sent to supervising prosecutors in @SAKimFoxx 's office today. Ya'll better step on it. Our story is coming tonight. #JussieSmollett pic.twitter.com/EteEXpg1zN
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) March 27, 2019
“We are just looking for further examples of how we, as prosecutors, use our discretion in a way that restores the victim, but causes minimal harm to the defendant in the long term.” Wait … wasn’t Smollett the victim in this case? He was savagely attacked by MAGA-hat wearing Trump supporters in an attempted “modern-day lynching.”
You'd think they'd have things like this top-of-mind if it were so common… https://t.co/rJifcZa55P
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) March 27, 2019
"PS—If you could, please try to find the frailest, youngest, or most heart-wrenching story possible…and not one that involves a Hollywood millionaire who race-carded the nation."
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) March 27, 2019
We need a precedent to support our decision yesterday that was based on a precedent.
— Cindy Rekoon (@PopNFood) March 27, 2019
— Martha ??????????? (@gwoman9810) March 27, 2019
— Martha ??????????? (@gwoman9810) March 27, 2019
— Martha ??????????? (@gwoman9810) March 27, 2019
Standing by….. pic.twitter.com/bOk48DU1Gy
— Noel Del Valle (@chitowncopr64) March 27, 2019
Inject this straight into my veins
— kham (@OutOfKenTroll) March 27, 2019
And of those cases, how many had their records expunged and evidence sealed? Im guessing the number is ZERO.. too late to circle the wagons
— John G (@jg255mass) March 27, 2019
Cook County State Attorneys office right now pic.twitter.com/t0BBSneIiQ
— VinylLife (@TrueDodgerCrue) March 27, 2019
DA's office. pic.twitter.com/zHcUd1Mxun
— Socrates Det. Agency (@COLOMBO_Qs) March 27, 2019
“Nobody is in trouble”.
New slogan for Chicago District Attorney’s office.
— Nick Daisy (@NickDaisyComedy) March 27, 2019
41 years in the trenches at the Cook County Criminal Court and NEVER ONCE got such a disposition on a felony
— Robert Nemzin (@robertfnemzin) March 27, 2019
I feel the need to modify the years as “Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney” on my bio with an asterisk emphasizing that my service pre-dated Kim Foxx.
— Nicholas G. Grapsas (@NicholasGrapsas) March 27, 2019
@FBI Once again, I am requesting the FBI to investigate Kim Foxx’s office, including the whole #JussieSmollett situation. How is it a defendant is asked to forgive $10,000 and do community service WITHOUT having to at least plea No Contest in Court??? Something is not right.
— Tom Vlasic (@PicklemanKoda) March 27, 2019
And don't forget – the "community service" was retroactive and of his own choosing/designation. #rainbowpush #specialtreatment #celebrities
— Sharona (@Really_Sharon) March 27, 2019
Yep … the community service wasn’t court-ordered or supervised. He just felt like doing some volunteer work at Rainbow PUSH that week.
Huge red flag at "Verbal Agreement". I would prefer a "Written Agreement". Wow…… #reaching!!!
— lakeshoredriveby (@lakeshoredriv11) March 27, 2019
I noticed that as well. A very low bar set in a time of desperation.
— Lan B Jr. (@LB_GameOfLife) March 27, 2019
Make sure they were hate crimes.
— Greg Harper (@ez_street2) March 27, 2019
With Foxx it's all about limiting the damage to the defendant, not helping victims
— red means run son (@dk12446) March 27, 2019
I just found footage of the look on Kim Foxx’s face after no one responds to this internal email with any precedent that she can point to as justification for what we witnessed yesterday. Corruption in Chicago continues. pic.twitter.com/MKg1qTV6jZ
— Toomer (@MagnoliaToomer) March 27, 2019
YESSS!! WE WANT EXAMPLES!! Only 1 hour of community service for each felony count he was required to do.
— T.Will (@Trinity4Will) March 27, 2019
There are single parents who worked more hours than that over the weekend.
— Socrates Det. Agency (@COLOMBO_Qs) March 27, 2019
That is some next level damage control in process…
— The Golden Avalanche (@JPOMalley1) March 27, 2019
Nobody’s in trouble …
* * *
Update:
Maybe the Jussie Smollett treatment isn’t so common:
Cook County's top prosecutor says the deal given to @JussieSmollett is "available to all defendants." If so, why did all of these—charged with the exact same crime—people plead guilty?
EXCLUSIVE REPORT: https://t.co/T7TCom3ukt pic.twitter.com/QGv5suzAYM
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) March 28, 2019
Some other differences between Smollett’s case resolution and the route taken by ordinary people are apparent. Smollett’s case was concluded in an “emergency hearing” rather than at his next scheduled court date on April 17th.
According to Cook County Circuit Court guidelines, emergency motions require “sudden or unforeseen circumstances” that “rise to the [level of] emergency.” Attorneys seeking an emergency hearing are required to explain “the reason(s) the matter should take precedence.”
Particularly odd was the decision to immediately seal Smollett’s court record. Even when individuals are acquitted of crimes, the court record remains accessible to the public until the individual seeks expungement—a 60- to 120-day process that entities such as the Chicago Police Department have an opportunity to contest.
But Smollett’s judge yesterday immediately sealed the case, and the case was removed from clerk electronic records within four hours, barring anyone from reviewing the matter. Foxx today said the sealing was an error that would be undone. As of midday on Wednesday, Smollett’s case had not returned to the clerk’s system.
Huh.
Read the whole thing to find out how many other people who filed false police reports were allowed to walk with no criminal record.
Related:
Rainbow PUSH confirms that Jussie Smollett’s 16 hours of community service weren’t even court-ordered https://t.co/1Ep8cKkxqg
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 27, 2019
