He still might not get away with it.
https://thenationalsentinel.com/2019/03/27/out-of-friends-jussie-smollett-could-still-face-federal-charges-over-hate-crime-hoax-that-chicagos-corrupt-prosecutor/“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was exonerated by a crooked prosecutor in Chicago for faking a hate crime and, potentially, igniting racial riots around the country, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of hot water.
Reports noted Wednesday that federal authorities are continuing to investigate the hoax and alleged criminal actions surrounding it. The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service have been investigating Smollett, according to ABC, to discover whether Smollett sent a fake threatening letter to himself as part of the hoax.
The letter was mailed to the Chicago office used for filming Empire.
The letter said, “You will die black f-g” and featured a stick-figure drawing of a person hanging from a tree. Also, envelope it came in had the letters “MAGA” written on it in red — a reference to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan of “Make America Great Again.” And it contained a white powder which turned out to be crushed aspirin.
The federal probe is ongoing despite the corruption in Chicago. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working closely with our law enforcement partners on this investigation. We are unable to provide any additional comment at this time,” the U.S. Postal Service said in a statement, according to Fox News.
Network legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano explained why mailing the letter can be a federal offense.
“If he mailed that threatening letter to himself by using the post office, he engaged in postal fraud. That’s five to 10 years in jail — that’s three times what he’s facing for filing a false report if the feds want to go there,” Napolitano said.
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police has also asked the feds to get involved, specifically to investigate Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who had to recuse herself from the Smollett case after being contacted by a friend and former official with the Obamas while they were in the Oval Office. Lawyer Tina Tchen, former chief of staff for Michelle Obama, contacted Foxx to see if she would move the Smollett investigation out of the hands of the Chicago PD and let the FBI handle it.
Smollett may have friends and allies in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office but chances are better than average he has no such pals in high places at the FBI and Justice Department.
