{"id":1123133,"date":"2021-12-15T20:29:32","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T01:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1123133"},"modified":"2021-12-15T20:29:38","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T01:29:38","slug":"sad-only-black-juror-on-jussie-smollett-case-is-speaking-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sad-only-black-juror-on-jussie-smollett-case-is-speaking-out\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Sad\u2019: Only Black Juror On Jussie Smollett Case Is Speaking Out"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsad-only-black-juror-on-jussie-smollett-case-is-speaking-out%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1123133&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A juror who sat on the case of actor Jussie Smollett <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/jussie-smollett-verdict-jury-sentencing\/11336423\/\">told<\/a>&nbsp;ABC 7 Chicago that he felt \u201csad\u201d about the case and is still puzzled over the actor\u2019s motive, noting the 39-year-old\u2019s successful career.<\/p>\n<p>Andre Hope, 63, the only juror who was black, \u201csaid he took no pleasure\u201d in finding Smollett guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct, the report said, adding, \u201cHe called the entire case \u2018sad\u2019 and said while the evidence against the actor was overwhelming, he\u2019s still left with one unanswered question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI still have not figured out a motive for why he did, why this had to even happen,\u201d Hope told the outlet. \u201cHe was a star.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was shocked,\u201d he said of being picked for the jury. \u201cI was completely shocked that I was even picked. At that point, I took it very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Though he\u2019s confused of Smollett\u2019s motive, Hope said the actor\u2019s claims don\u2019t add up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo o\u2019clock in the morning. Cold outside. When you just use your common sense as what\u2019s there, yeah it just, it didn\u2019t add up,\u201d the juror explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe also said the noose, used in the staged attack, was a critical piece of evidence,\u201d the report detailed. \u201cAfter wearing the rope home, Smollett claimed he took it off then put it on for police to see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs an African American person, I\u2019m not putting that noose back on at all,\u201d Hope asserted.<\/p>\n<p>Hope said the jury was professional but pushed back that he was the only black person selected.&nbsp;\u201cBecause how can we say that this is a jury of your peers when there\u2019s only one African American?\u201d he said. \u201cAnd there were plenty there, so you could\u2019ve gotten two, three four. African Americans can handle the truth, too. And we can give an impartial judgement on a case.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another juror, a female who asked to remain anonymous, <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/2021\/12\/10\/22828351\/jussie-smollett-juror-interview-hate-crime-hoax\">said<\/a> Friday that the&nbsp;jury was confused on what specifically was being asked to find Smollett guilty on the sixth count of disorderly conduct, and therefore did not find him guilty, which the juror said felt like a \u201cfavor to Jussie,\u201d the Chicago Sun-Times <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/2021\/12\/10\/22828351\/jussie-smollett-juror-interview-hate-crime-hoax\">reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p id=\"r8YjGu\"><em>The jury in Jussie Smollett\u2019s trial felt they were doing him \u201ca favor\u201d when they convicted the former \u201cEmpire\u201d actor on five counts of disorderly conduct, but not a sixth, one of the jurors told the Sun-Times Friday.<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"Kqpa22\"><em>The decision was one the jury struggled with, the juror said.<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"A0jX0M\"><em>In the end, \u201cwe all thought we were doing Jussie a favor,\u201d said the juror, who asked not to be named.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were told it was an aggravated battery because he said they were wearing a mask,\u201d the female juror explained, adding that \u201cin all [of Smollett\u2019s] accounts of what happened, he mentioned a mask.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Sun-Times reported that the juror noted that \u201cif prosecutors had charged all the battery counts the same,\u201d Smollett would have likely been found guilty on all six counts.<\/p>\n<p>The juror said during the interview that the jury was reluctant to quickly find Smollett guilty on all counts, noting the actor\u2019s elderly mother in the courtroom and the possibility that Smollett could serve time in prison.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt wasn\u2019t an easy decision,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got the mother sitting there. You feel bad. We didn\u2019t know what the penalty would be. Are we sending this guy to jail?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was not evenly split, but there were some doubters,\u201d the juror continued, adding,&nbsp;\u201cI just hope that [Smollett and his legal team] know that we went in there with an open mind. I listened to both sides. We wanted to make sure that those who had doubts didn\u2019t feel pressured.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Back in January 2019, Smollett claimed he was targeted and attacked by apparent supporters of then-President Donald Trump in an anti-gay, anti-black hate crime. His alleged attackers, whom he allegedly described as white males who yelled \u201cThis is MAGA country,\u201d were brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo. Notably, the brothers are both black men who knew the \u201cEmpire\u201d star before the incident and have claimed Smollett orchestrated the \u201choax.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A jury on Thursday found Smollett guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct related to the incident. He has not yet been sentenced, but is facing up to&nbsp;three years in prison on each count, NBC Chicago <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcchicago.com\/news\/local\/jussie-smollett-verdict-what-he-was-found-guilty-of-and-whats-next-in-the-legal-saga\/2704278\/\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/juror-on-jussie-smollett-case-speaks-out-we-all-thought-we-were-doing-jussie-a-favor\">Juror On Smollett Case Speaks Out: \u2018We All Thought We Were Doing Jussie A&nbsp;Favor\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/chief-who-arrested-smollett-says-sandwich-tipped-off-authorities-maybe-wouldve-let-off-with-apology\">Chief Who Arrested Smollett Says Sandwich Tipped Off Authorities, Maybe Would\u2019ve Let Off With&nbsp;Apology<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/jussie-smollett-can-rest-knowing-that-his-attacker-has-been-convicted-social-media-erupts-following-verdict\">\u2018Jussie Smollett Can Rest Knowing That His Attacker Has Been Convicted\u2019: Social Media Erupts Following&nbsp;Verdict<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\">member<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A juror who sat on the case of actor Jussie Smollett told\u00a0ABC 7 Chicago that he felt \u201csad\u201d about the case and is still puzzled over the actor\u2019s motive, noting the 39-year-old\u2019s successful career.Andre Hope, 63, the only juror who was black, \u201csaid he took no pleasure\u201d in finding Smollett guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct, the report said, adding, \u201cHe called the entire case \u2018sad\u2019 and said while the evidence against the actor was overwhelming, he\u2019s still left with one unanswered question.\u201d\u201cI still have not figured out a motive for why he did, why this had to even happen,\u201d Hope told the outlet. \u201cHe was a star.\u201d\u201cI was shocked,\u201d he said of being picked for the jury. \u201cI was completely shocked that I was even picked. At that point, I took it very seriously.\u201dThough he\u2019s confused of Smollett\u2019s motive, Hope said the actor\u2019s claims don\u2019t add up.\u201cTwo o\u2019clock in the morning. Cold outside. When you just use your common sense as what\u2019s there, yeah it just, it didn\u2019t add up,\u201d the juror explained.\u201cHe also said the noose, used in the staged attack, was a critical piece of evidence,\u201d the report detailed. \u201cAfter wearing the rope home, Smollett claimed he took it off then put it on for police to see.\u201d\u201cAs an African American person, I\u2019m not putting that noose back on at all,\u201d Hope asserted.Hope said the jury was professional but pushed back that he was the only black person selected.\u00a0\u201cBecause how can we say that this is a jury of your peers when there\u2019s only one African American?\u201d he said. \u201cAnd there were plenty there, so you could\u2019ve gotten two, three four. African Americans can handle the truth, too. And we can give an impartial judgement on a case.\u201dAnother juror, a female who asked to remain anonymous, said Friday that the\u00a0jury was confused on what specifically was being asked to find Smollett guilty on the sixth count of disorderly conduct, and therefore did not find him guilty, which the juror said felt like a \u201cfavor to Jussie,\u201d the Chicago Sun-Times reported:The jury in Jussie Smollett\u2019s trial felt they were doing him \u201ca favor\u201d when they convicted the former \u201cEmpire\u201d actor on five counts of disorderly conduct, but not a sixth, one of the jurors told the Sun-Times Friday.The decision was one the jury struggled with, the juror said.In the end, \u201cwe all thought we were doing Jussie a favor,\u201d said the juror, who asked not to be named.\u201cWe were told it was an aggravated battery because he said they were wearing a mask,\u201d the female juror explained, adding that \u201cin all [of Smollett\u2019s] accounts of what happened, he mentioned a mask.\u201dThe Sun-Times reported that the juror noted that \u201cif prosecutors had charged all the battery counts the same,\u201d Smollett would have likely been found guilty on all six counts.The juror said during the interview that the jury was reluctant to quickly find Smollett guilty on all counts, noting the actor\u2019s elderly mother in the courtroom and the possibility that Smollett could serve time in prison.\u201cIt wasn\u2019t an easy decision,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got the mother sitting there. You feel bad. We didn\u2019t know what the penalty would be. Are we sending this guy to jail?\u201d\u201cIt was not evenly split, but there were some doubters,\u201d the juror continued, adding,\u00a0\u201cI just hope that [Smollett and his legal team] know that we went in there with an open mind. I listened to both sides. We wanted to make sure that those who had doubts didn\u2019t feel pressured.\u201dBack in January 2019, Smollett claimed he was targeted and attacked by apparent supporters of then-President Donald Trump in an anti-gay, anti-black hate crime. His alleged attackers, whom he allegedly described as white males who yelled \u201cThis is MAGA country,\u201d were brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo. Notably, the brothers are both black men who knew the \u201cEmpire\u201d star before the incident and have claimed Smollett orchestrated the \u201choax.\u201dA jury on Thursday found Smollett guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct related to the incident. He has not yet been sentenced, but is facing up to\u00a0three years in prison on each count, NBC Chicago reported.Related:\u00a0Juror On Smollett Case Speaks Out: \u2018We All Thought We Were Doing Jussie A\u00a0Favor\u2019Related:\u00a0Chief Who Arrested Smollett Says Sandwich Tipped Off Authorities, Maybe Would\u2019ve Let Off With\u00a0ApologyRelated:\u00a0\u2018Jussie Smollett Can Rest Knowing That His Attacker Has Been Convicted\u2019: Social Media Erupts Following\u00a0VerdictThe Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1123133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1123133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123133\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1123133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1123133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1123133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}