Maxine Waters In 2019: ‘Dedicated To Finding Jussie Smollett’s ‘Culprits’
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) came to the rescue of actor Jussie Smollett on Twitter just hours after the actor falsely reported to police that he had been attacked in January of this year.
“Jussie is my friend – a very talented & beautiful human being. It is so hurtful that homophobic haters would dare hurt someone so loving and giving. I’m dedicated to finding the culprits and bringing them to justice. Jussie did not deserve to be harmed by anyone,” Waters tweeted.
Jussie is my friend – a very talented & beautiful human being. It is so hurtful that homophobic haters would dare hurt someone so loving and giving. I'm dedicated to finding the culprits and bringing them to justice. Jussie did not deserve to be harmed by anyone!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) January 30, 2019
According to The Daily Wire, “Smollett contends he was targeted by two Trump supporters, who verbally and physically accosted him as he was walking home from a Subway sandwich shop in downtown Chicago on January 29. The actor says the men called him a “f*****” and a “n*****,” tied a noose around his neck, poured bleach on him, and kicked him in the ribs”.
In addition to referring to Smollett as a friend, Waters has stated that she regards him as “like a son.”
This Thursday, a Chicago jury found Smollett guilty on five of six counts of disorderly conduct. Smollett was not found guilty of lying about the aggravated battery because his attackers were wearing masks.
Waters has not yet taken down her tweet or issued a statement in response to the jury’s decision in the Jussie Smollett case. Waters stated in February of 2019 that she “would be disappointed if it was a hoax.”
“We marched in the Pride Parade together. He introduced me at Black Girls Rock. And so I believed him when I heard about it”, Waters told Variety.
Smollett’s charges were initially dismissed in March of this year. Waters said it was the “correct thing”.
“First of all, we probably will never know all of the details. We’ve heard a lot of information. No one was hurt — that is, physically, killed, shot — he never committed a crime before, he forfeited the bail and it’s this kind of situation where they close the case all over the country every day. I have learned this isn’t unusual.”
Nenye Uche, Smollett’s lead defense attorney, has indicated that he intends to appeal the jury’s guilty judgment, claiming that his client is innocent. According to Uche, “we feel 100 percent confident that this case will be won on appeal”.
“Unfortunately, that’s not the route we wanted but sometimes that’s the route you have to take to win, especially a case where we remain 100 percent confident in our client’s innocence.”
Stay tuned to The Scoop for any updates.
