Actor Jussie Smollett arrived in Chicago on January 28th. He went out to get fast food at 2 a.m. when he said he was allegedly attacked by two Trump supporters in MAGA hats who recognized him in the freezing cold, beat him, poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck.
It was -15 to -30 degrees wind chill on Tuesday morning.
Smollett said the mysterious MAGA men poured bleach on his head but bleach freezes at 18 degrees.
The weather on Tuesday was a low of -9 degrees.
Frozen bleach will not pour.
Jessie Smollett said he was assaulted and suffered a cracked rib but condo surveillance video shows Smollett walking past security to the elevator without telling them he had just been attacked by thugs who “beat the hell out of him” and “broke his ribs.”
On Saturday Smollet admitted his rib was not broken.
This was complete crap – just like the rest of the story.
Via Michelle Malkin:
And Jussie was carrying his Subway sandwich when he arrived home — he saved it during the alleged assault!
Jussie Smollett says he was talking to his manager during the assault but he won’t turn over his phone.
The Associated Press reported that police had released images of “persons of interest”from surveillance camerafootage, but were unable to find footage of Smollett being attacked.
The persons depicted in the police video were said to be walking away from the scene prior to 1:45AM.
But Jussie continues to speak out on the alleged late night assault.
On Good Morning America Jussie Smollett accused his doubters of being racist Islamophobes.
“I have to acknowledge the lies, and the hate,” he told “Good Morning America” in an interview with host Robin Roberts that aired on Thursday. “And it feels like if I had said it was a Muslim, or a Mexican, or someone black, I feel like the doubters would have supported me much more. A lot more. And that says a lot about the place that we are in our country right now.”
Police said they will press charges if they discover Jussie lied about the alleged attack.
It can’t come soon enough.
Update: As one might expect, President Trump has chimed in on twitter, where he slammed McCabe for giving Hillary Clinton a pass and accused the former deputy director, who admitted to lying to the DOJ’s inspector general, of giving “Hillary a pass.”
And as Breitbart’s Sean Davis reminds us, Trump’s criticisms are very much justified.
“I was speaking to the man who had just … won the election for the presidency and who might have done so with the aid of the government of Russia." Former FBI acting director Andrew McCabe, Sunday on 60 Minutes. https://t.co/IVwcM11BGcpic.twitter.com/m6HwHMOqY9
Trump Jr. took the attack one step further, accusing McCabe of trying to orchestrate a “deep state coup” against his father, before declaring that it’s time that somebody should “investigate the investigators.”
And though Rosenstein has already announced his plans to resign from the DOJ after William Barr has been confirmed, Freedom Caucus leader Mark Meadows is renewing the call for him to resign immediately following McCabe’s revelations.
In his first interview about the Russia probe since he was summarily fired by President Trump just 26 hours before he was set to retire and collect his pension, and while the possibility of criminal charges over his attempts to cover up his leaks to the press, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe sat for an interview with CBS about the early days of the Russia probe.
In an excerpt of the full interview, which is set to air on Sunday, McCabe described how he quickly moved to start the Russia probe a day after meeting with Trump in May 2017 in the days after James Comey‘s firing, over fears that he would soon be fired. After authorizing the investigation into Trump’s Russia ties, McCabe sought to ensure that the investigation – which was eventually rolled into the probe eventually taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller – would be on “solid ground” even if he was booted from the FBI.
“I was very concerned that I was able to put the Russia case on absolutely solid ground in an indelible fashion that were I removed quickly or reassigned or fired that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace,” McCabe told CBS.
The interview marked the first time McCabe has ever opened up about his thought process when he launched the probe. In his recounting of his conversation with President Trump, McCabe said he felt intimidated by the president.
“I was speaking to the man who had just run for the presidency and won the election for the presidency and who might have done so with the aid of the government of Russia, our most formidable adversary on the world stage,” McCabe said in an excerpt aired on CBS on Thursday. “And that was something that troubled me greatly.”
He compared Trump’s request that McCabe allow him to visit the FBI – a visit that McCabe suggest would have been well outside the bounds of decorum – to tactics used by Russian mobsters that McCabe had once prosecuted.
“In this moment, I felt the way I’d felt in 1998, in a case involving the Russian Mafia, when I sent a man I’ll call Big Felix in to meet with a Mafia boss named Dimitri Gufield,” McCabe wrote. “The same kind of thing was happening here, in the Oval Office. Dimitri had wanted Felix to endorse his protection scheme. This is a dangerous business, and it’s a bad neighborhood, and you know, if you want, I can protect you from that. If you want my protection. I can protect you. Do you want my protection? The president and his men were trying to work me the way a criminal brigade would operate.”
Of course, nobody in the mainstream press has pointed out that the timing of McCabe’s decision to launch the probe would suggest that he was looking for leverage to stop him from being fired along with Comey…though, thanks to his decision to lie to the DOJ’s inspector general, that problem swiftly took care of itself.
He also admitted that he launched the investigation without any actual evidence…just partisan hackery.
In a discussion about the interview, McCabe’s interviewer Scott Pelley said McCabe affirmed that there had been discussions about invoking the 25th amendment to remove Trump – something that was the subject of a series of leaks last year…
.@ScottPelley on what McCabe told @60Minutes: "There were meetings at the Justice Department at which it was discussed whether the vice president and a majority of the cabinet could be brought together to remove the president of the United States under the 25th Amendment." pic.twitter.com/iVAyrEV4MF
…about a plot allegedly concocted by Rod Rosenstein (Rosenstein, for what its worth, has issued a statement denying McCabe’s assertion that the Deputy Attorney General raised the issue of Trump Administration officials wearing a wire during their talks with the president).
The Deputy Attorney General never authorized any recording that Mr. McCabe references. As the Deputy Attorney General previously has stated, based on his personal dealings with the President, there is no basis to invoke the 25th Amendment, nor was the DAG in a position to consider invoking the 25th Amendment.
Finally, the Deputy Attorney General never spoke to Mr. Comey about appointing a Special Counsel. The Deputy Attorney General in fact appointed Special Counsel Mueller, and directed that Mr. McCabe be removed from any participation in that investigation. Subsequent to this removal, DOJ’s Inspector General found that Mr. McCabe did not tell the truth to federal authorities on multiple occasions, leading to his termination from the FBI.”
The full interview will air Sunday night at 7 pm. But CBS has published an excerpt below:
Smollett gave an interview to ABC’s Robin Roberts that will air on Thursday
In a brief promo video for the interview, he welled up after being asked if he feared for his life
The actor was walking home from a Subway on January 29 when he was attacked
It was 2am when the attackers beat him, poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck
He arrived home and his friend, Frank Gatson, 60, insisted they call the police
Since then, no footage of the incident has been found and police have no leads
They have also been at odds with the star over his cooperation with their probe
Smollett did not hand over his phone records to prove that he was on a call to his manager at the time of the attack for two weeks
The records he supplied were redacted and police described them as ‘insufficient’
Chicago Police Department launched a frantic hunt for his attackers who he said shouted ‘This is MAGA country!’ after punching his ribs, pouring bleach on him and tying a noose around his necks.
In the weeks that followed, details of the incident have been picked over forensically.
Despite finding video of Smollett before and after the attack, police have not been able to uncover any surveillance footage of the actual incident and they have not been able to identify the suspects.
They released an initial image of two men walking near Smollett on the night of the incident at around the same time but that led to nothing.
They have also pointed out repeatedly that Smollett did not immediately turn over his phone records or his phone to prove that he was on a call with his manager, Brandon Z. Moore, when the attack took place as claimed.
It carries special significance because Moore claims to have heard the attackers calling Smollett ‘Empire f****t n****r’ and shouting: ‘This is MAGA country!’
Within the first few days of the attack, he gave an interview to Variety saying he had heard the slurs but he has not spoken about it since.
On Monday, Smollett finally did hand over his records but they were redacted.
Chicago Police Department described them as ‘insufficient proof’ of the call.
The actor angrily responded that via a representative that he was never told as much and that they were redacted to protect ‘personal contacts or high-profile individuals not relevant to the attack.’
In a statement to DailyMail.com on Tuesday night, a spokesman for the actor said: ‘Jussie is the victim here, which has been stated by the Superintendent of Police.
‘Jussie has voluntarily provided his phone records from within an hour of the attack and given multiple statements to police. Chicago PD has repeatedly informed us that they find Jussie’s account of what happened that night consistent and credible. Superintendent Johnson has been clear from day one that Jussie is a victim.
‘We are continuing to work closely with the Chicago PD and remain confident that they will find Jussie’s attackers and bring them to justice.
‘Any redacted information was intended to protect the privacy of personal contacts or high-profile individuals not relevant to the attack.
‘Chicago Police have not told us that they are rejecting any records, nor have they expressed concerns about the records to us.
‘Therefore, we don’t feel compelled to be bated (sic) into responding to uncorroborated press reports.
‘We are dealing directly with the Chicago Police Department.’
This is nothing new for Jim Acosta.
The CNN hack famously whined about his “life being in jeopardy” at an earlier rally where he was seen taking selfies with Trump supporters.
Did Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) smoke marijuana in college, or while she was arresting people for minor drug offenses?
That was the question circulating social media Monday evening, after Harris said she smoked a “joint” in college during an interview with the radio show, “The Breakfast Club.” Co-host “Charlemagne tha God” asked Harris if she had ever smoked marijuana, to which the California senator replied: “I have.”
“And I did inhale. I did inhale! It was a long time ago, but yes. I just broke loose,” Harris added. She then claimed she smoke a “joint” while in college and remembered being high.
“I think [marijuana] gives a lot of people joy,” Harris said. “And we need more joy in the world.”
When asked what music she listened to when she smoked, Harris said, “Oh yeah, definitely Snoop. Tupac for sure.”
Except, Harris graduated from Howard University in 1986, and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1989. Tupac released his first album, “2Pacalypse Now,” on November 12, 1991 — two years after Harris graduated from law school. Snoop Dogg released his first album, “Doggystyle,” on November 23, 1993 — four years after Harris graduated law school.
By the time Tupac and Snoop began releasing albums, Harris was already working as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, CA. She started that job in 1990 and left in 1998.
So, either Harris lied about who she listened to while smoking (or, more charitably, doesn’t remember who she listened to and named the first artists she thought of), or she actually had her one “joint” while she worked as a deputy district attorney putting people away for smoking marijuana.
In her book, “The Truths We Hold,” Harris talks about her newfound support for decriminalizing marijuana.
“We need to expunge nonviolent marijuana-related offenses from the records of millions of people who have been arrested and incarcerated so they can get on with their lives,” Harris wrote.
Harris hasn’t always supported marijuana legalization. As CNN details, as recently as 2010, when Harris was San Francisco’s district attorney, she opposed legislation that would legalized marijuana in the Golden State. Her then-campaign manager, Brian Brokaw, told Capitol Weekly that Harris “believes that drug selling harms communities,” but did support the use of medical marijuana.
She continued this belief through 2015, when she spoke at the Democratic State Convention.
Earlier in her career, she worked to put nonviolent marijuana users behind bars, according to Reason’s Ed Krayewski.
“As San Francisco D.A. she opposed a measure to legalize marijuana, and when she ran for attorney general she argued that legalization would encourage people to work and drive while high. As attorney general, she called for an expansion of the state’s efforts to track prescription drug users. She also opposed cuts to drug enforcement programs that often targeted drug dealers for nonviolent offenses,” Krayewski wrote.
CNN doesn’t look further back than 2010, but dismisses Harris’ change in the politest terms possible.
“Perhaps it’s a story of gradual realization of the need for legalization, or maybe it’s just a story of one politician adapting to public opinion,” CNN reported.
Harris’ office did not respond to a press inquiry prior to publication.
Social media users are flocking to #StandwithIlhan after Rep. Ilhan Omar was pressured to issue an apology for her tweets about the Israel lobby’s influence over US politicians, after she was accused of anti-Semitism.
Omar was seemingly forced to apologize by Democratic leadership after she tweeted about Israeli influence and named the powerful Israel lobbying group AIPACas having a hold over US politicians.
Although her statements were backed up, Omar faced an onslaught of outrage from a wide range of commenters, from Chelsea Clinton to President Donald Trump, who said she should be“ashamed of herself.” This despite the fact that Trump faced criticism for making anti-Semitic tropes about members of the Republican Jewish Coalition liking money and making deals when he addressed them in 2015.
“I don’t think her apology was adequate,” he unironically said of Omar.
Omar “unequivocally” apologized for her remarks in a statement which also reaffirmed the problematic role of lobbyists in US politics. This prompted many to accuse her of not apologizing enough, while her supporters expressed disappointment that she was apologizing at all.
Many voicing their support for Omar pointed to American values of freedom of speech and shared a petition urging the Democratic leadership to stand up against “bad faith attacks” targeting Omar even after her apology. Others said they had donated to her campaign.
Social media users also provided more information to back up Omar’s initial tweets about Israel’s influence, and pointed to disconnects between House Leader Nancy Pelosi’s statement supporting Israel and denouncing “racism, prejudice and discrimination” in light of freedoms not offered to Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The volume of outrage and cries of anti-Semitism from the US establishment seemed to further bolster Omar’s comments about the sway the Israel lobby holds over elected officials and the country’s two leading political parties.
Ironically, smearing people as anti-Semites is a tactic employed by the Israel lobby both in the US and theUK, as detailed in two Al Jazeera documentaries which saw an undercover reporter infiltrate both the US and UK lobby to reveal methods employed by the groups. The US version was never aired by Al Jazeera as a result of pressure wrought by the Israel lobby and members of Congress, who accused the network of… anti-Semitism.
If you don't want to believe @IlhanMN about @AIPAC influencing Congress on behalf of Israel, listen to former AIPAC director, Eric Gallagher, say the exact same thing. (This clip is from the incredible @AlJazeera documentary, The Lobby USA – https://t.co/lFmSseSoky) pic.twitter.com/kLkNsy9Iqq
One clip from the censored documentary shared on Twitter shows former AIPAC Director Eric Gallagher explaining that “everything AIPAC does is focused on influencing Congress.”
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam vowed that he will remain in office and be a “moral compass” amid a slew of scandals engulfing the state’s chain of gubernatorial command.
During an interview on Face the Nation, Gov. Northam touted his own virtue and valor as leadership qualities necessary to guide his constituency through the on-going political turmoil.
Gov. Ralph Northam tells @GayleKing: "Virginia needs someone that can heal. There's no better person to do that than a doctor. Virginia also needs someone who is strong, who has empathy, who has courage and who has a moral compass. And that's why I'm not going anywhere" pic.twitter.com/pHgxM7oGKh
“We’ve had a good first year, and I’m a leader,” Gov. Northam told host Gayle King when asked why he “deserves” to remain in office amid myriad calls from both sides of the aisle for his resignation.
“I’ve been in some very difficult situations — life and death situations, taking care of sick children — and right now, Virginia needs someone that can heal. There’s no better person to do that than a doctor.”
“Virginia also needs someone who is strong, who has empathy, who has courage and who has a moral compass. And that’s why I’m not going anywhere,” he asserted.
Northam told King he has “learned” but has “a lot more to learn” from controversy stirred by the emergence of a photo possibly depicting him in ‘blackface’ or a Ku Klux Klan outfit during his time in medical school, although it is unclear if he is either or neither person in the photo, as he has both confirmedand denied his presence in the shot.
However, just days prior to the photograph’s emergence, Northam shocked many when he seemed to endorse post-birth abortion, raising pressing questions about his “moral compass.”
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax has now been accused by two different women of sexual assault and rape.
Two out of three Fairfax staffers have now resigned, as well as two employees of his political action committee, according to reports.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, who would become governor if Northam and Fairfax should fall, is embroiled in a ‘blackface’ scandal of his own.
He signed with the Panthers last season a few weeks into the year.
I can’t wait to see how people try to spin this one. I guess it’s kind of a massive middle finger the whole belief national anthem protesters can’t get jobs.
The reality of the situation is simple. Reid is still in the NFL because teams think he can help them win, and he does clearly have something left in the tank.
Kaepernick is not in the NFL because he’s a massive distraction, and his play dropped off a cliff by the end of his career. Let’s stop making up facts and let’s focus on the truth instead.
CBS‘s Gayle King made one thing clear in her extended sit-down with embattled Gov. Ralph Northam: She’s willing to forgive and forget.
Northam, who’s facing calls to resign after getting caught up in a series of racist incidents — he apologized over a photo of a man in blackface and a man in KKK garb appearing on his medical school yearbook page, and he’s acknowledged his former nickname was “Coonman”— told King that he’s unwilling to leave office.
King kicked off her interview with the softest of softball tosses, asking Northam: “I know this has been a very difficult week for you in the state of Virginia. So where would you like to begin?”
After the interview, the first of which aired Sunday, King praised Northam … for showing up on time: “Well, the interview was at seven o’clock, and he was there ready to — we were in his house, of course, he was there ready to go. And he was on time. ”
She then said he deserves to be trusted: He clearly is very anguished by this whole situation. … I — I know that is clearly an attempt at damage control, but I didn’t feel that he was spinning a story.”
After the second half of the interview aired Monday, King continued her calls for Northam to be given another chance.
“It’s a very interesting time for the governor because what — what I walked away feeling is that he so wants to make this right,” sje said. “And I talked to many black people and white people in Virginia who say— he has a lot of support in the state of Virginia — who say look at his history, what he’s done. No one — the people that I talked to do not believe he’s racist. They think it was a stupid thing but don’t think he’s racist.”
King even excused Northam after he referred to early black slaves in Virginia as “indentured servants”: “In a statement, he told us this morning that ‘During a recent event at Fort Monroe, I speak about the arrival of the first Africans in Virginia and referred to them in my remarks as enslaved. A historian advised me that the use of indentured was more historically accurate — the fact is, I’m still learning and getting it right.’”
After the full interview aired, the “CBS This Morning” panel spent more than a minute making excuses for Northam. King ultimately asked, Who among us hasn’t done something stupid during our 20s … or even 30s?
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