As part of Jussie Smollett’s bond hearing Thursday, prosecutors read aloud texts they say were exchanged between the Empire actor and Abel Osundario, who allegedly planned the hoax hate crime along with his brother Ola and Jussie.
On January 25, the day after prosecutors say Smollett received a threatening letter he sent to himself at Fox’s Empire studio in Chicago that contained a white powder that turned out to be crushed Advil, Smollett allegedly texted Abel.
Smollett asked Abel when he planned to leave for a trip to Nigeria, and after learning of the January 29 departure, asked to meet face-to-face to discuss something.
“Might need your help on the low. You around to meet up and talk face to face,” read the text, according to prosecutors.
How about we take this to the next level?
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The two allegedly then planned to meet later on the 25th at Abel’s apartment. During the drive to the apartment, prosecutors say Smollett expressed frustration that the letter hadn’t received enough attention and broached the idea of an orchestrated attack to be executed by Abel and Ola.
Prosecutors told the judge that Smollett later talked to the brothers about the details of the plan, from what they should say — “Empire fa**ot”, “Empire ni**er”, “this is MAGA country” — to props they should use — a noose and gasoline.
They later changed the gasoline to bleach, prosecutors added.
Then Smollett allegedly gave the brothers a check for $3,500, backdated to Jan. 23.
The brothers were captured on video buying a red had and ski masks from a store the day before the attack.
Smollett’s bond was set at $100,000, and he was required to hand over his passport.
“As you stand before me we presume you’re innocent but the state read me a proffer that is outrageous. If true, the noose conjures up [the] greatest evil in this country,” Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. told Smollett.
Ashke113
Jussie Smollett can burn in hell for what he did to the black & LGBT communities all because he got greedy……
CobraPowers
We all know he didn’t do it out of greed alone, he was pushing a political agenda of hatred and division that would benefit people like Kamala Harris, who happens to be his auntie.
MarathonBoy
*LGB
He isn’t transgender and none of his claims had anything to do with transgenderism.
Joseph
Your a nasty one aren’t you, hope you are sipping your ice tea in the South, and thinking off the fires of hell
Brian
I’m pretty sure he’s not a lesbian either. Stop trying to make fetch happen Marathon Boy.
ModeI
I have to admit I thought it was odd that his attackers supposedly recognized him from Empire
Morrisson
It is just the arrogance and double standards that gets me. Jussies ‘legal team release a statement saying ” Like any other citizen, Mr Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence’. But, rewind to September last year and Jussie wanted to deny Brett Kavanaugh that very same right.
James Hart
True.
Jussie Smollett used all of those left wing celebrities and media types to help him do his dirty work.
Now the egg is all over their faces.
And Jussie is headed to prison.
Aires the Ram
Truth.
mattphat23
Jussie’s a greedy, narcissistic, sociopath and pathological liar. He disgraced the Black & LGBTQ communities and I hope they throw the book at him!
RilkeRainer
Huff, what a horrible thing that… leave everyone gay plop plop plop…
Brian
Why is he even fighting this? They have texts plotting the scam and a freaking check payment. What on earth could his defense possibly be?
Bob LaBlah
You know Brian, you said something that I meant to mention a week ago. This should serve as a warning to all of us that just because he delete a text that text can not be found, word for word. There are no secrets that any of us have nor had that can’t be found and personally I find that disturbing. This is why I do not do social media. I have no secrets and about six or so people that I call friends or feel close to. All of them know not to text or email me with certain details of how they or what they’ve done or might do. Regular old conversation from a land line still works for me.
Brian
Yeah I don’t think people remember that all people in a text conversation have a copy of the texts easily available to give to the police when you try to throw them under the bus as your attackers in a fake hate crime. And we all should know that anything sent though a computer or phone can be unearthed through forensic analysis.
DHT
Well we really don’t know, maybe the police were setting him up. And also, that check might have just been an advance to help these two princes transfer their inheritance to a US bank.
Brian
Oh man. That would be the best defense ever. “It all started when I got this email from Nigeria…”
truthseeker
What is even worse is that according to police sources, they asked Jussie if he wanted to sign off on pressing charges when they told him they caught 2 suspects from the scene when he assumed they were 2 white men. Then when police told him they were 2 Nigerians who are claiming to know Jussie, he refused.
He was willing to have 2 innocent people face possible jail time. Just shows what kind of person he is.
James Hart
He is a black and gay bigot who hates white people, straight people, and conservatives.
Jussie Smollett is a BIGOT.
Blackceo
I seriously want to kick Jussie Smollett’s behind. It angers and hurts me more than if a White person had done something like this because he is a member of two marginalized communities (Black and Gay) and used both of them to advance a selfish, narcissistic, and downright sadistic plan over money….allegedly (rolls eyes). So he should know better. There is a lot of pain, anger, and disappointment associated with this and I do hope he is held fully accountable. If that means jail time then so be it.
The damage he has done only emboldens those whose nature it is to not believe victims in the first place. The people gloating and engaging in “ha ha told you I was right” already show themselves when they use code words like “victimhood” and SJW. Jussie’s case will cause a lot of damage, but his one case should not be used to generalize. He used his status privilege to concoct a pretty bad scam that quickly unraveled. I still will not apologize for believing and supporting Smollett from the outset because I know that there are real Black and queer victims of hate crimes, and that they remain at risk for attack. So I will continue to believe people who claim to be victimized until there is evidence to the contrary.
Brian
“The people gloating and engaging in “ha ha told you I was right” already show themselves when they use code words like “victimhood” and SJW. Jussie’s case will cause a lot of damage, but his one case should not be used to generalize.”
I really don’t think people see the irony in writing statements like this.
Here’s an idea for the “now the right is going to say everyone is lying” crowd. If you want people to look at each case based on it’s own facts available and individual merits, maybe try giving those people the same benefit of the doubt that you want them to give future victims? At least wait until something actually happens and see what the response is? And don’t assume that because some people are jerks about it that they represent an entire group or class or race of people? I know it’s a crazy idea but it just might work.
Blackceo
Brian who are you referring to because I didn’t say anything about any group saying that from now on anyone who claims something similar is lying. I’m talking about the people more concerned with being right than the tragedy and disgusting nature of this entire situation with Smollett. What you said isn’t wrong but then you also have to look at intentions. I’m not going to be shamed into initially believing someone claiming to be a victim, as opposed to people who have the information after the fact and then say “there were good people on both sides”
Some folk don’t have the moral high ground to suddenly be outraged but have remained quiet on a host of other detrimental things. I have the same energy for Jussie that I had thinking he was a victim that I have now calling for him to be held accountable. Most people in here lack that. Me thinks we are going to have to just agree to disagree on this one in respect to that.
truthseeker
@Blackceo
I think what Brian is saying is that we should not just believe people right from the start. We shouldn’t automatically doubt them either. We should ask for proof and facts first, analyze those, then come to our own conclusions.
Many people exhibit confirmation bias toward their “tribe” or they’ll believe someone just because they’re crying. It reminds me of the Simpsons meme of a character crying and the interviewer saying “you’re tears say more than facts ever could”
The fact that you say you will continue to believe people until their story is proven false is not how the basis of law or investigation works. The person making the claim must prove it to be true. That’s where the danger comes with these mindless hashtags of #BelieveWomen #BelieveAllSurvivors. It parallels historic times of calling someone a witch or when whites would accuse black people of crimes just so they’d be lynched
Why should be blindly believe people without evidence?
Morrisson
I agree with everything @ Brian has said here. @ BlackCeo The issue is that there is no right to be believed, there is only a right to be listened to. This is were the problems arise. Let someone make an allegation and then let the facts decide. Due diligence is the corner stone of modern common law legal systems. Belief without proof is naive and amounts to faith and more crimes have been committed due to faith than any other motivator.
Brian
That wasn’t directed at you specifically, but I’ve seen a lot of people saying similar things like “Trump supporters are going to use this to never believe another victim” and the like.
Obviously people are going to have opinions on these kinds of stories. I would just like to see more people actually basing their opinions on what is actually happening and not things like “why would a TV star need to fake a hate crime?” Which is purely projection and has nothing to do with the actual facts. Although in this case I find it especially delicious that the motive being claimed is specifically because he is a TV star.
I just don’t think it’s unreasonable to want people to have an opinion that is just based on what we know about what happened, without using “Trump supporters are evil” or “people lie about hate crimes all the time” as a basis.
I also know that will never happen, but it’s nice to have a pipe dream sometimes.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
No sympathy at all. Maximum prison term well deserved…
piriblue
He is is so famous and so well loved by the Black community. The courts are only going to give him a slap on the wrists. They do no want to anger the Afro American community. Everything is political.
The Award shows too. Do your homework. They try to keep everyone happy. Look at Rupauls last show he picket two winners. We know who really deserved to win but since Rupaul has been accused
of a lot of things. It was worth and extra $100,000 t o keep the peace and her reputation.
Brian
You really think Chicago wants to send the message that this is ok? That they’re fine with wasting hundreds and hundreds of hours of police manpower on a hoax? And that the feds are going to send the message that sending white powder through the mail to scare somebody is fine?
I sure don’t.
Donston
You’re pretty much just talking out of your ass. He’s not “beloved” by the black community, especially not now and especially not by the homophobic subset. However, I have and you have no idea how this will go down in the courts.
Rock-N-RollHS
So quick to lynch, my pretties! JS clearly is f-ed up. I feel pity and sadness.
In the end, I don’t judge black, gay, or even Republicans or liberals by the actions of a few. People who use this as an excuse to tar and feather all gays, blacks, or Trump critics are just ethically bankrupt and probably not too smart.
Disappointing, but movin’ on. Better to focus on the actual rise in hate crimes.
TheKngdom
Love this. Exactly
CobraPowers
That would be a lovely way to look at it, if every single left leaning publication, politician, and celebrity of influence hadn’t use this hoax to try to smear 60+ million people which includes many LGBT people tired of the hateful narrative coming from the left.
iamru2
His walk of shame today was epic! HE looked wrecked!
Bob LaBlah
I just saw on the CBS Evening News where he jumped into that SUV he rode up in. I wonder if it was his. No word on whether or not he was stripped searched but I do hope he had on clean panties.
Donston
Honestly, he comes off more dumb and naive and perhaps sick-minded to me than anything else. Why use your own phone? How could someone in “partial spotlight” plan something like this and not think the police would want to see their phone? The details of the “attack” came off very planned, like someone was stalking him for weeks. Did he really think the police wouldn’t investigate? So stupid. I do understand how someone could be triggered to do this. He’s likely had to deal with a lot of racists and homophobic comments on his social media and in his day to day life. But instead of trying to bring attention to that he comes up with this half-baked sh*t that undermines what he’s trying to bring attention to?
iamru2
Please this guy hasn’t suffered a day in his life! Experienced racism and homophobia daily? That’s absurd!
Donston
I get so tired of people interpreting things the way they want to. Did I say he was suffering? I said he’s likely seen and heard a lot of comments on his social media and in his day 2 day life that are homophobic and/or racist. Does that excuse his actions or make him look any less like a hateful, bitter crazy person? Of course not. And that stuff comes with the territory when you aim for fame.
Kieran
This is what Stage 4 Trump Derangement Syndrome looks like.
“This is MAGA country!” Jussie tells police while still wearing the noose the “White men” supposedly put around his neck. This moron really must have grown up in a privileged bubble of left-wing entitlement.
thisiswhatithunk
What a dreadful bunch of hateful morons on here. What JS did was wrong and he needs to be dealt with appropriately. But the bigger problem here is the fact that nobody can see this man is clearly damaged. Staging something as heinous as this makes me seriously question his state of mind. The first commenter says he can ‘burn in hell’, really? Is that how you deal with people who do stupid, damaging things? Shame on you! JS is an ass, not a killer or a sex criminal.
Kangol
You are talking to a wall with this crowd.
Meanwhile, a real racist terrorist, Christopher Paul Hasson, was just busted before he could go on a rampage and kill as many people as possible. He had a huge arsenal, had been doing a search for how to harm and murder major Democratic politicians, had targeted media people like ex-GOP Congressman Joe Scarborough, etc., and wanted a race war. He had the training and skills to carry out his rampage too. He is the latest version of a strain of domestic terrorists, just like that Trump-loving fanatic down in Florida last year.
But you know, crickets….
GymMan456
This man is damaged? No, its not about that. This is a a matter of victim culture, and of their many false actions. It has happened before. It is about a damaged culture. Remember this: any accusation without substance is an offence.
How do you cure a group for its sick behavior ?
kille31
You are pathetic kangol. Why are you defending the actions of JS? His he not “a real racist”?? trying to promote hate and create more division in an already divided country??
And you cant even see the hypocrisy of what you said. Christopher was clearly demented, he said he wanted to kill everyone in the world, poison the water supply ect. He didnt have the means to do any of these. This is lunatic and sociopathic behavior. JS planned the attack and did it in full consciousness of what he was doing, he wanted a better salary.
Finally, ppl like you are dangerous, trying to divide the country and calling everyone racist when things dont go your way.
truthseeker
Also, I don’t see that anyone has pointed it out yet but in the sworn testimony, one of the Nigerian brothers said that he has sold drugs to Jussie before.
Frankj
What else did he pay for?
Chevelter
It appears that Smollett is going to double down playing the race card. His attorneys are going to point to reported instances of racism and violence among the Chicago Police Department.
Miles
I think we could all quite possibly be reading too much into this story. I think the devil here is some sort of mental disorder combined with a low level of intelligence.
DHT
I have to admit I thought it was odd that his attackers supposedly recognized him from Empire…a show probably not high on the priority list for MAGA viewers.
daveku
I knew something was not right when after said alleged attack, he still went back to his home WHILE CARRYING HIS SUBWAY SANDWICH! I’ve never had a sandwich that was so good I held on to it after getting beat up. Now if it was a ‘five dollar foot long’ that’s a different story!
Frankj
How could he not see this would be exposed as a hoax?
Did he think the Chicago PD was the Keystone Cops?
Jussie Smollett made $360,000 per season from Empire.
Now Jussie Smollett can go sell his ass in the street.
inbama
The Nigerians have great abs, but they sure are ugly.
piriblue
Hush your mouth. Sometimes who is really looking at their faces? Besides who cares. As long as it is a good time.
salumbre
I just can’t understand what he thought he could possibly accomplish with this charade. The very first reports of the attack sounded like some sort of sick joke –there were too many checkboxes there for this to be a real occurrence. Some guys with hoodies, MAGA hats, and a roll of rope?
It did put him on the map for me, as I don’t watch Empire and didn’t know him from Adam. Was that what he wanted? Notoriety? Not to be fired from Empire? What?
JackieOMG
Maybe the check represents money he paid one or both of them to “ASSault” him (if you know what I mean.)