Here’s the latest on the Jussie Smollett investigation, via Rob Elgas of ABC 7 Chicago:
Have some new information about an @ABC7Chicago FOIA request in the Smollett investigation.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 8, 2019
Last Friday one of our assignment editors filed under FOIA, "requesting any police body cams involving Jussie Smollett including the very first officer on the scene and any other officer body cams that have any video and or sound.. or any police video from police cars".
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 8, 2019
Our FOIA request for this information in the Smollett case was denied.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 8, 2019
The response cites privacy.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 8, 2019
Remember we reported Jussie Smollett did ask officers to turn off body cameras after they disclosed to him they were wearing them. This is CPD policy (to disclose the cams are recording) and investigators say it's not uncommon for victims of a crime to ask they be turned off.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 8, 2019
Police are also reportedly reviewing “many hours” of new surveillance video:
My Chicago reporting colleague @RaferWeigel is reporting police have new surveillance video from a red light camera. I haven not confirmed this with CPD but can tell you 1) There's a red light camera near the condo building where police were called…
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 8, 2019
2) Chicago police do tell me they are reviewing "red light cameras, pod cameras, hotel cameras, any cameras we can find". And because there are so many hours of footage, this process is taking a really long time.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 8, 2019
So, how did this thing all end up? Fox 32 Chicago reporter Rafer Weigel predicts it will end up with either the attackers caught or Smollett brought up on charges for making a false report:
Since so many have asked me if @Chicago_Police will let #JussieSmollett case go unsolved, I’ll give my opinion. Given the high-profile nature of the crime, I don’t believe so. I believe they’ll either find the perpetrators responsible or charge #Smollett w/ filing a false report
— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) February 8, 2019
#Chicago is already dealing with a negative image when it comes to crime. Proving #JussieSmollett made up the story would go against that narrative. Conversely, @Chicago_Police bringing any suspects to justice for this horrible crime would bolster the dept’s image.
— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) February 8, 2019
To be continued…
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Related:
Police investigating Jussie Smollett attack ‘visiting every store in the city’ that sells clothesline https://t.co/Z1NlGsgs0J
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 8, 2019
Fox 32 Chicago reporter drops DeRay Mckesson and other libs on their heads over criticism of his Jussie Smollett reporting https://t.co/IoG66PdthR
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 5, 2019
Chicago Police Superintendent: Jussie Smollett 'will be held accountable' if he made a false report https://t.co/Z7qQyw7XAK
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 5, 2019
