![Feb 12, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; [CAPTION] during the second half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo-USA TODAY Sports](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GettyImages-1131246352.jpg?w=804)
CHICAGO (AP) — An attorney for Jussie Smollett says a 16-count indictment against the “Empire” actor is “vindictive” and Smollett “maintains his innocence.”
Mark Geragos says in a statement that he did not expect a Cook County grand jury would charge Smollet with 16 separate counts and the indictment is “prosecutorial overkill.”
He says the indictment “is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make headlines in order to distract from the internal investigation launched to investigate the outrageous leaking of information by the Chicago Police Department and the shameless and illegal invasion of Jussie’s privacy.”
Smollett is charged with disorderly conduct for making a false report of an attack on him in Chicago. Police say Smollett staged the attack and recruited two brothers to participate. Local media have reported that the Chicago Police Department is investigating leaks to reporters during the investigation of the reported attack.
He ought to try the Affluenza denfense. Oh that’s rightt, he can’t because he’s not white.
Piling on the counts is a tactic to force him to plea deal. He is so obviously guilty that I don’t think a jury would try jury nullification that we have seen in some high profile trials.
Yes, 16 counts seems like overkill, but I suspect that those involved, including the prosecutors, the police, and Smollett’s defense attorneys, would like to see a plea deal worked out, one that doesn’t involve any jail time. Loading up the indictment might make Smollett see reason.
That makes quite a bit of sense. The DA’s office really screwed the pooch though in announcing these charges the day after the Manafort sentencing. It just highlighted the disparity in our justice system. He should certainly be punished, but no more than the runaway bride lady, balloon boy’s parents, or the white girl in TX who claimed she was gang raped by three black men.
Smollett is still playing the victim here, and never apologized to the City of Chicago,or Chicago PD.
Just hope he gets the psychiatric help he seems to be desperately in need of.