
<p>Finally … justice has been served in the Jussie Smollett case – after three years from the time he tried to scam the world for some cheap publicity to boost his second-rate acting career. ; ;</p>



<p>Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in the county jail. ; It could have been worse – much worse. ; The maximum for each of his convictions on six counts of felony disorder was 30 years of hard time in prison. ; And the Judge James B. Linn could have made them consecutive – amounting to 180 years behind bars.</p>



<p>Of course, such a sentence would have been an intolerable injustice, but it is useful to understand what the law would have allowed compared to what he got.</p>



<p>On the other hand, he could have gotten no jail time – just probation. ; But that would also have been an intolerable injustice. ; Judge Linn explained why Smollett needed to spend some time in the hoosegow in an excoriating sentencing statement. ; It was not a minor hoax with limited ramifications.</p>



<p>As the Judge explained, what Smollett did had a major impact on society in many ways. ; He planned and executed a hate crime attack on himself by a couple of alleged MAGA Trump people. ; Not only did he want sympathetic publicity, but he also wanted to smear those he considers his political enemies. ; ;</p>



<p>He claimed that the attack was motivated by two “strangers” who accosted him because of his race and his homosexuality.</p>



<p>The scheme fell apart because Smollett is in the highest ranks of stupid pranksters. The two men were associates of his – not strangers.  ; They and Smollett left behind a trail of irrefutable evidence – from messages between the parties to the purchase of equipment and a payment check from Smollett for services rendered. ; I mean really … who pays for a crime with a check? ; ;</p>



<p>As Linn pointed out, Smollett did great harm to the credibility of every Black person and every gay person who is the victim of a real attack. ; He did great harm to the credibility of progressive Democrats who rushed to support him – including the President and the Vice President of the United States. ; He made fools of them. ; (No snide comment, please.)</p>



<p>Smollett – in proclaiming his innocence – attacked the police, claiming to be the victim of racism. ; In fact, Smollett’s lies required that the police and investigators had to put in a lot of time building the case.</p>



<p>Smollett almost got away with it, when a too friendly prosecutor, Cook County District Attorney Kim Foxx, inexplicably dropped all charges and Judge Steven Watkins – in a head-scratching move &#8212; ordered the file to be sealed. ; The public outrage forced the re-opening of the case – and charges were filed by Special Prosecutor Dan Webb. ; When the facts and evidence started coming out, it revealed just how crooked were the Foxx and Watkins actions.</p>



<p>The judge also noted that Smollett testified in his own behalf – which he did not have to do. ; But while on the stand he repeatedly perjured himself. ; Judge Linn called Smollett’s testimony “two hours of perjury.”</p>



<p>In addition to the jail time, Smollett received a $25,000 fine and is required to pay more than $130,000 in restitution to Cook County for the costs he imposed on law enforcement. ; ;</p>



<p>When allowed to speak after sentencing, Smollett went into an irrational rage – screaming over and over “I am not suicidal” – saying if he were to die in jail, it would be murder. ; He also raised his clenched fist and repeated his grand lie … that he is innocent.</p>



<p>You should recall that this was not the first time Smollett attempted this type of ruse. ; He had previously sent himself some white powder and then ran to the press. ; He got caught in that lie, too. ; But that time, he got a pass. ; That is why it is so important that he pay a higher price this time.</p>



<p>Smollett’s claims of innocence against so much compelling evidence suggests that he is not just a con man but has mental issues. ; Some observers have already predicted that upon his release, Smollett will renew his claim of innocence and add to it false claims of abuse by guards and fellow inmates. ; ; ;</p>



<p>Smollett is getting the amount of publicity he craved, but not the type. ; In fact, he may have also imposed the worst sentence on himself – the end of his acting career. ; He appears to be too irrational, volatile and dishonest to be trusted by any producer.</p>



<p>All things considered, Smollett is getting off with a fairly light sentence. ; He should be thankful.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Jussie Smollett should be grateful
