Jussie Smollett lawyer says star is victim of ‘media gangbang’
Empire actor Jussie Smollett leaves Cook County jail after posting bond on February 21, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty)
Jussie Smollett’s lawyer has claimed that the Empire actor is the victim of a “media gangbang.”
The actor was indicted by a grand jury on 16 felony counts on Friday (March 8) for filing false police reports relating to a hate crime attack.
Smollett claimed in January that he was the victim of a homophobic and racist attack, but Chicago police have accused him of perpetrating the attack on himself with two associates.
Lawyer: Jussie Smollett facing ‘media gangbang’
The star maintains his innocence, however, with lawyer Mark Geragos claiming he has been the victim of a “media gangbang.”
Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper following the March 8 indictment, he said: “What is happening here is, frankly, a media gangbang of this guy of unprecedented proportions.
“I’ve never seen a media pendulum swing more quickly and more viciously and rob somebody of their presumption of innocence like this case has.
“It’s startling the way people assume that he’s guilty.”
Geragos attacked the decision to file a total of felony 16 counts, which could carry a lengthy prison time.
Police have ‘no evidence’ linking Smollett to crime, lawyer claims
The lawyer also referred to an ongoing probe within the Chicago Police Department over the leaking of false information relating to the case.
He added that despite police claims that the attack was faked to secure a salary increase on Empire, law enforcement officials “have not talked to one person at Fox who said he was dissatisfied with his money.”
Geragos noted that doubt has been cast over a widely-reported media claim that Smollett paid associates Abel and Ola Osundairo $3,500 to fake the attack. Records suggest that the money was in fact a personal training fee.
The lawyer said: “I don’t understand where any of this comes from. He supposedly paid for it? There’s no evidence of that.”
The Osundairo brothers claim Jussie Smollett paid them to fake the attack
Geragos also questioned why no charges had been brought against the Osundairo brothers, adding: “Why is it, if they did this and were in cahoots with him, why weren’t why indicted?”
He added: “Their motivation, I’ve got my theories on it, but I haven’t seen one piece of evidence that links Jussie to this. What they do have is a whale of a case. If you believe what the police chief is saying, they’ve got a great case against the two brothers.
“They’ve got Lyft receipts, they’ve got ATM receipts, they’ve got a surveillance video, but what do they have that corroborates the story?
“What do they have, besides their word, that says he [Jussie] was in on this?”
