2023: Jussie Smollett Request To Toss Convictions, Illinois Appeals Court To Hear Arguments

Published

12 months ago

2023-09-12

CHICAGO, Ill. — Jussie Smollett’s long legal saga resumes Tuesday when an Illinois appeals court hears oral arguments on whether the former “Empire” actor’s convictions for orchestrating a racist, homophobic attack on himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police should be overturned.

If Smollett’s appeal before the First District Appellate Court in Chicago fails, he will have to serve the 150-day sentence imposed by his trial court during his 2022 sentencing. Smollett was only imprisoned for six days before being released pending the outcome of his appeal. The decision is expected to take many weeks.

Jussie’s lawyers argue in a 76-page written appeal that his 2021 trial violated his Fifth Amendment rights against double jeopardy — being punished for the same conduct twice. According to the report, he previously completed community service and forfeited a $10,000 bond as part of a 2019 agreement with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to dismiss the initial allegations.

Smollett, who is Black and gay, was the victim of a racist court system and people playing politics, according to Nenye Uche, one of his lawyers, last year. Uche slammed special prosecutor Dan Webb’s plan to seek further charges in 2020. He also deemed the trial judge’s sentence for a low-level offense excessive.

In the appeal, Smollett’s legal team claims that Chief Prosecutor Kim Foxx’s office exercised legitimate discretion in dropping the original charges four years ago.

Jussie Smollett’s long legal saga resumes Tuesday when an Illinois appeals court hears oral arguments.

“If Mr. Smollett’s convictions are allowed to stand, this case will set a dangerous precedent by giving prosecutors a second bite at the apple any time there is dissatisfaction with another prosecutor’s exercise of discretion,” the appeal claims.

According to the special prosecutor’s 55-page letter, how the agreement with Foxx’s office was constructed left open the prospect of recharging Smollett without breaking double jeopardy safeguards.

“Smollett’s attacks on the validity of his prosecution are legally and factually unsupported,” it says.

Jussie stated to police in January 2019, on a bitterly cold day in Chicago, that he was the victim of a racial and homophobic attack by two individuals wearing ski masks. The pursuit of the perpetrators quickly devolved into a probe of Smollett himself, which led to his arrest on charges of masterminding the attack.

Jussie allegedly paid two individuals he knew from his work on the TV program “Empire” to arrange the attack. Prosecutors said he informed them what racist and homophobic obscenities to say, as well as that Smollett was in “MAGA Country,” a reference to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign slogan.

Jussie Smollett’s long legal saga resumes Tuesday when an Illinois appeals court hears oral arguments.

In 2021, a jury found Smollett guilty of five felony charges of disorderly conduct — the offense filed when someone lies to police. On the sixth count, he was acquitted.

Jussie was sentenced to 30 months of felony probation in 2022, with 150 days served in Cook County Jail, $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago and a $25,000 fine by Cook County Judge James Linn.

As he jailed Jussie, Judge Linn called him a narcissist and expressed surprise at the actor’s behavior, given his mixed family history and ties to social justice activities.

During sentencing, as Smollett was being carried to jail, he yelled that he was innocent, warning the judge that he was not suicidal and that if he died in custody, it would have been someone else’s fault.

SOURCE – (AP)

News

Canadian Man Arrested for TikTok Video That Threatened Trudeau

Published

8 hours ago

2024-09-07

Geoff Thomas

Marshall is facing two counts of uttering threats - CBC Image

A TikTok video that went live earlier this week has led to a Toronto man facing charges of threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Andrew Marshall, 61, is facing two counts of uttering threats.

On Friday afternoon, the Ontario Court of Justice granted him bail with a surety and restrictions after the RCMP charged him on Wednesday.

Following Monday’s upload to TikTok, CBC Toronto conducted its own independent investigation of the video. Marshall vehemently opposes what he perceives as restrictions on free expression in Canada in it.

“I get them taken down all the time— I make videos — or all my comments, that are just simple comments,” Marsh says in the TikTok. “It’s just getting ridiculous, Marshall said.”

According to the CBC more and more people are threatening politicians. The commissioner of the RCMP has hinted that further measures may be necessary to ensure their safety.

In the TikTok video, Marshall explains in great detail how he would brutally assassinate Trudeau and Freeland “if it was up to him.”

Marshall attacks multiple groups throughout the roughly 11-minute TikTok video, including the media, Muslims, migrants, and the police who defend the government.

Among Marshall’s bail terms are the following: he must not communicate with Trudeau or Freeland; he must not use the internet to make social media posts or comments; he must not own any weapons; and he must not apply for a firearms permit.

During the bail hearing, the prosecution provided all of the evidence that is often not published.

Nate Jackson, Marshall’s attorney, stressed his client’s liberties and privileges as a Canadian in an email message.

“He has the right to freedom of speech, the right to reasonable bail and the right to a fair trial,” he said. “Having secured his release from custody, we will continue to defend Mr. Marshall’s Charter rights as his case proceeds.”

Neither Freeland’s nor the prime minister’s office would comment on the allegations, according to the CBC.

TikTok Says Cyberattack Targeted CNN And Other ‘High-Profile Accounts’

TikTok Says Cyberattack Targeted CNN And Other ‘High-Profile Accounts’

Entertainment

Tim Burton’s ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ a Box Office Success Gets 4.5 Stars

Published

8 hours ago

2024-09-07

Geoff Thomas

Beetlejuice is 41% ahead of the norm for the action comedy sci-fi genre - Netflix Image

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice preview reportedly made $13 million for Warner Bros. Fans gave it 4.5 stars on Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak, while both parents and children under the age of 12 gave it 5 stars.

The sequel has a current budget of $90 million, with room to grow.

The sequel starring Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, and Winona Ryder had 59% female attendees, with 73% of those attendees being 25 and older. In terms of gender, 62% of the children were girls and 38% were boys. Last night, the Latino and Hispanic community had an impressive showing at 36% of the total audience.

According to Yahoo Entertainment, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice social media reach With 508.6 million followers across TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram combined, Beetlejuice is 41% ahead of the norm for the action comedy sci-fi genre.

“Jenna Ortega has stunned her 38.2 million Instagram followers with 103.1 million views, while Michael Keaton has 1.58 million and Willem Dafoe has 155 thousand,” the social media analytics company adds.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice a Remarkable Sequel

Additionally, they mention, “Convo for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice A remarkable feat for a sequel, Beetlejuice has received mostly good reviews from audiences who have praised the film for its originality and sense of purpose. ‘At first, I thought this was another Scream movie, then I thought it was the Wednesday Season 2!’ A number of fans, including new viewers, are ecstatic to see Jenna Ortega in a horror film.

According to fans of the 1988 original, “My inner child from the 80’s is screaming!” when asked about the style of Jenna Ortega’s flicks. I’m more pumped up for this movie than any other! “I admire the practical effects and the attempts to make it look like the old movie!!” is one commenter’s praise for the show’s expert production values and impressive use of special effects.

You can count on seeing a plethora of costumed fans at the movies this weekend.

A large number of collectible concessions are also available. Beetlejuice jack-in-the-box popcorn buckets are available at Cinemark, competing with Sandworm and Wolverine

For Nicolas Cage, Making A Serial Killer Horror Movie Was A Healing Experience

For Nicolas Cage, Making A Serial Killer Horror Movie Was A Healing Experience

News

Canada’s Unemployment Rate Hits its Highest Point Since 2017

Published

8 hours ago

2024-09-07

Geoff Thomas

Canada's unemployment rate rose to 6.6 per cent in August - FIle Image

As the job market remains dismal, the national unemployment rate in Canada has risen to its highest point since 2017. This has led some analysts to question whether the Bank of Canada should be reducing interest rates more quickly.

In spite of a net gain of 22,000 jobs, Statistics Canada reported on Friday that the unemployment rate increased to 6.6% from 6.4% the previous month. The rise was due to an uptick in part-time employment and a fall in full-time employment.

Outside of the pandemic years, the national unemployment rate has reached its highest position since May 2017, according to StatCan.

Rapid population expansion in Canada has increased the overall labour pool, but the country’s unemployment rate has persisted in rising.

The summer job market was especially tough for students, according to StatCan. Not including the pandemic, the unemployment rate among students going back to school in the autumn was 16.7 percent, which is the highest level since 2012.

Two days after the Bank of Canada dropped interest rates for the third time in a row, reducing borrowing costs to alleviate economic pressure, the most recent reading of the Canadian job market follows suit.

According to TD Bank economist Leslie Preston, who wrote a note on Friday, the central bank is “giving the OK” to keep dropping rates due to the bad August jobs report. Preston predicts two more quarter-point decreases at the remaining decisions this year.

According to CIBC senior economist Andrew Grantham, there are indications that the labour market is quickly contracting more than initially thought, since the unemployment rate is nearly two percentage points greater than the record low of 4.9% in June 2022.

“Due to this, we believe the Bank should be contemplating a quicker rate of reductions in order to bring interest rates to less restrictive levels,” he informed clients in a letter on Friday morning.