Donald promises federal investigation of Smollett case..

mark kennedy

Natura non facit saltum
Supporter
Mar 16, 2004
22,024
7,364
60
Indianapolis, IN
✟549,630.00
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/03/28/us/jussie-smollett-backlash-thursday/index.html



Gosh, you'd think that Donald of all people would show a little solidarity with a black man who was just exonerated...

Thoughts?
If he is completely exonerated then why is he being ordered to pay the cost of the investigation? They way I'm getting it the state prosecutor thinks they had enough to convict him but the outcome would have been about the same. Frankly, he looks pretty guilty to me, not that I think Trump has any business sticking his nose into it, this was a state case.
 
Upvote 0

Goonie

Not so Mystic Mog.
Supporter
Jun 13, 2015
10,050
9,608
47
UK
✟1,141,165.00
Country
United Kingdom
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Single
If he is completely exonerated then why is he being ordered to pay the cost of the investigation? They way I'm getting it the state prosecutor thinks they had enough to convict him but the outcome would have been about the same. Frankly, he looks pretty guilty to me, not that I think Trump has any business sticking his nose into it, this was a state case.
It will be interesting to see whether he will pay, as it would in effect be admitting he was guilty.
 
Upvote 0

TheBear

NON-WOKED
Jan 2, 2002
20,646
1,811
✟296,671.00
Country
United States
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Private
https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/03/28/us/jussie-smollett-backlash-thursday/index.html



Gosh, you'd think that Donald of all people would show a little solidarity with a black man who was just exonerated...

Thoughts?
First, Smollett was never exonerated for the crime of filing a false police report and staging his own attack. The charges were suddenly dropped, and in a move that usually applies only to minors, the details of his misdeeds were ordered sealed. Very strange. And if you were exonerated of a crime, wouldn't you demand your $10,000 back? And if you were exonerated of a crime, they wouldn't attach community service to the case, whether current or something credited for past services.

But, forget all that. In a separate and federal case, Smollett committed mail fraud and a terrorism hoax. These charges make the former ones look like a cake walk in comparison.



And the spin begins in 3, 2, 1......

.....
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Gigimo
Upvote 0

TLK Valentine

I've already read the books you want burned.
Apr 15, 2012
64,493
30,319
Behind the 8-ball, but ahead of the curve.
✟541,512.00
Country
United States
Faith
Agnostic
Marital Status
Single
But, forget all that.

Can do!

In a separate and federal case, Smollett committed mail fraud and a terrorism hoax. These charges make the former ones look like a cake walk in comparison.

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? It was all the rage not too long ago...
 
Upvote 0

TheBear

NON-WOKED
Jan 2, 2002
20,646
1,811
✟296,671.00
Country
United States
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Private
Can do!



Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? It was all the rage not too long ago...
We're talking about investigations, not convictions. And they need to get this thing going fast. What is that other thing that was all the rage not too long ago? Oh, yeah. "Justice delayed is justice denied!"
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

TLK Valentine

I've already read the books you want burned.
Apr 15, 2012
64,493
30,319
Behind the 8-ball, but ahead of the curve.
✟541,512.00
Country
United States
Faith
Agnostic
Marital Status
Single
We're talking about investigations, not convictions.

And as we've all recently learned, when an investigation doesn't catch the big fish, not only is said big fish "exonerated," but it's a call for retribution against those who called for the investigation in the first place.
 
Upvote 0

bhsmte

Newbie
Apr 26, 2013
52,761
11,796
✟247,431.00
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
Are hate crimes, even faked ones, covered by federal law as well as state?

Not sure, but if it can be shown he mailed the letter to himself with the white powder, that is a federal crime, know as mail fraud. Which has much more severe punishment, than what he was indicted for.
 
Upvote 0

Arcangl86

Newbie
Dec 29, 2013
11,075
7,405
✟343,116.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Green
Maybe because hate crimes are a violation of federal law?

Hate Crime Laws
I don't see how hate crimes laws would apply here. Though I didn't know about the letter, and that would be mail fraud which is a federal crime, though one investigated by the Postal Inspection Service, not the FBI.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

SummerMadness

Senior Veteran
Mar 8, 2006
18,201
11,829
✟331,677.00
Faith
Catholic
It will be interesting to see whether he will pay, as it would in effect be admitting he was guilty.
Paying money doesn't mean he's guilty, he's already been exonerated. He might just pay the money so he can move on with his life, similar to how the president paid a inappropriate content star hush money, but he never has sexual relations with her.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Goonie
Upvote 0

BigDaddy4

It's a new season...
Sep 4, 2008
7,442
1,983
Washington
✟217,619.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I don't see how hate crimes laws would apply here. Though I didn't know about the letter, and that would be mail fraud which is a federal crime, though one investigated by the Postal Inspection Service, not the FBI.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, 18 U.S.C. § 249

The Shepard Byrd Act makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily injury, or attempt to do so using a dangerous weapon, because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin. The Act also extends federal hate crime prohibitions to crimes committed because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person, only where the crime affected interstate or foreign commerce or occurred within federal special maritime and territorial jurisdiction. The Shepard-Byrd Act is the first statute allowing federal criminal prosecution of hate crimes motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
 
Upvote 0

Arcangl86

Newbie
Dec 29, 2013
11,075
7,405
✟343,116.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Green
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, 18 U.S.C. § 249

The Shepard Byrd Act makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily injury, or attempt to do so using a dangerous weapon, because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin. The Act also extends federal hate crime prohibitions to crimes committed because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person, only where the crime affected interstate or foreign commerce or occurred within federal special maritime and territorial jurisdiction. The Shepard-Byrd Act is the first statute allowing federal criminal prosecution of hate crimes motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Except if it was a hoax, then no hate crime was committed, because the crime wouldn't have been motivated by Smollett belonging to a protected class.
 
Upvote 0

Goonie

Not so Mystic Mog.
Supporter
Jun 13, 2015
10,050
9,608
47
UK
✟1,141,165.00
Country
United Kingdom
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Single
Except if it was a hoax, then no hate crime was committed, because the crime wouldn't have been motivated by Smollett belonging to a protected class.
Deliberately faking a hate crime might in itself be a hate crime.
 
Upvote 0

SummerMadness

Senior Veteran
Mar 8, 2006
18,201
11,829
✟331,677.00
Faith
Catholic
Except if it was a hoax, then no hate crime was committed, because the crime wouldn't have been motivated by Smollett belonging to a protected class.
You're using the term protected class incorrectly. Being targeted because of race or sexual orientation covers all races and sexual orientation. So if he is attacked for being homosexual, it is a hate crime. Likewise, if he is attacked for being heterosexual, it is a hate crime. People throw around this term "protected class" as if straight people have no protections, when it's more like, people aren't being attacked for loving the opposite sex.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Arcangl86

Newbie
Dec 29, 2013
11,075
7,405
✟343,116.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Green
You're using the term protected class incorrectly. Being targeted because of race or sexual orientation covers all races and sexual orientation. So if he is attacked for being homosexual, it is a hate crime. Likewise, if he is attacked for being heterosexual, it is a hate crime. People throw around this term "protected class" as if straight people have no protections, when it's more like, people aren't being attacked for loving the opposite sex.
No I was using it properly. His race, religion, sexuality and gender were not factors in his being attacked, if it is accurate that he wasn't actually attacked to begin with.
 
Upvote 0

jgarden

Senior Veteran
Jan 1, 2004
10,695
3,181
✟106,405.00
Faith
Methodist
Donald promises federal investigation of Smollett case..

Is this the same American President that refuses to believe that Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salmanwas was not responsible for directing his Emergency Response Team to kill and dismember the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi
in its Turkish Embassy - despite confirmation from CIA sources!?

Apparently Smollett suffers from that grave misfortune, that the rest of us share, of not being born a Saudi prince, with the wealth and power that commands the respect of Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner - given that it provides the kind of financing both require to bankroll their real estate empires!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums