Prosecutor Says Jussie Smollett ‘Compounded the Harm…by Lying’ to the Jury; Could He Face Further Charges? – Opinion

The drama lastly got here to an finish with the decision within the Jussie Smollett case at present.

The jury discovered Smollett responsible on 5 felony counts of disorderly conduct associated to the false reporting to the police. He was discovered not responsible on one of many costs. Each of the charges might get him three years in jail, however it was anticipated by some that he would get much less, extra alongside the traces of probation.

Smollett arrived late and with an enormous entourage, in a closing egotistical flourish. He had been advised that he wanted to get again into courtroom if a verdict got here in inside thirty minutes, and he was late — which says one thing proper there about how a lot respect he has for the courtroom.

Smollett’s lawyer indicated that they’d enchantment. In the event that they suppose that’s getting overturned — when pigs fly.

Particular Prosecutor Dan Webb skewered Smollett after the decision got here in, saying that Smollett compounded the hurt that he had already carried out by mendacity to the jury. He stated the jury implicitly concluded that by their verdict, rejecting Smollett’s claims that there wasn’t a hoax.

Smollett is used to enjoying to an viewers. You possibly can mislead the media and get away with it. You possibly can even have them take up for you within the course of, as they did with Jussie Smollett. However you possibly can’t lie beneath oath.

That raises a few prospects. Now they may theoretically go after Smollett on a perjury cost.

However one other extra quick and fewer problematic manner of addressing the mendacity could be for the prosecution to argue it as an aggravating issue on this current case on sentencing. Webb stated, “We’ll let the decide determine what to do,” indicating he was more likely to plumb that query on sentencing.

As former prosecutor Andrew McCarthy explains:

Illinois has sentencing tips, which mirror the federal sentencing tips in lots of vital particulars. Underneath the federal tips, a defendant’s sentence could also be enhanced by the trial decide for “obstructing or impeding the administration of justice.” One instance of such obstruction is trial perjury. (See part 3C1.1, utility notes, instance (c) beneath “Examples of Coated Conduct.”) Illinois’s tips usually are not laid out with the readability of the federal guide, however there are many state instances holding that it’s correct for a decide to reinforce a sentence based mostly on a discovering {that a} defendant dedicated perjury on the trial.

So whereas he is likely to be taking a look at no actual time due to no actual, prior document, he could have simply purchased himself some, with the irritating issue of mendacity.

Maybe the funniest however the actual response from the foremost gamers within the case got here from Ola Osundairo. Whereas Smollett may need had the larger entourage, Ola acquired within the final phrase. He type of mocked the media’s tackle Ola and his brother for referring to them as “Nigerians,” saying he ought to have introduced his “Nigerian accent.” Whereas they’re of Nigerian descent, they have been each born and raised in Chicago.

Ola wished his brother luck on his boxing match tonight, after which stated “Nigerian-American lives matter.” A pleasant rebuke of Smollett and the BLM who confirmed assist him.

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