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The Chicago Sun-Times -- one of the newspapers requesting access to the Smollett file -- reported that the Cook County judge, Steven Watkins, ordered the documents unsealed because Smollett and his attorneys had “not shown good cause to rebut the public presumption of access."
Smollett's case files were sealed in the same hearing where the Cook County States Attorney announced that they would drop 17 felony counts against Smollett in return for approximately 16 hours of community service and a $10,000 check -- the "down payment" Smollett left with the court when he was let out on bond. He didn't even have to admit his guilt or apologize for making a false hate crime report.
The 17 charges stem from two interactions Smollett had with police following the attack, and Smollett was hit with one felony count of obstructing justice for each statement, made to investigators, that a grand jury believed was a lie, mostly because all of the evidence pointed in that direction.
It's Smollett's actions in the wake of the "deal" with prosecutors that seem to have convinced Judge Watkins to allow the Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and others access to the full case file, including an interview Smollett gave proclaiming his own innocence, shortly after his appearance in court.
“Smollett voluntarily appeared on national television speaking about the incident in detail,” Watkins said. “After the March dismissal, he stood in front of numerous cameras... in the courthouse lobby speaking about the case.”
“These are not the actions of a person seeking simply to maintain his privacy or simply to be let alone," Watkins added.
Watkins did not accept Smollett's attorneys' arguments that their client was entitled to a "right to privacy," adding that the public interest, in this case, outweighed the need to keep the documents sealed.
The Smollett case exposed a series of crazy policies at work inside the Cook County State's Attorney's office. In addition to what is likely preferred treatment given to Smollett, a celebrity, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx is now accused of agreeing to lenient sentences in a variety of cases, in the name of a more "progressive" approach to justice, which is not in her job description.
Smollett's case files were sealed in the same hearing where the Cook County States Attorney announced that they would drop 17 felony counts against Smollett in return for approximately 16 hours of community service and a $10,000 check -- the "down payment" Smollett left with the court when he was let out on bond. He didn't even have to admit his guilt or apologize for making a false hate crime report.
The 17 charges stem from two interactions Smollett had with police following the attack, and Smollett was hit with one felony count of obstructing justice for each statement, made to investigators, that a grand jury believed was a lie, mostly because all of the evidence pointed in that direction.
It's Smollett's actions in the wake of the "deal" with prosecutors that seem to have convinced Judge Watkins to allow the Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and others access to the full case file, including an interview Smollett gave proclaiming his own innocence, shortly after his appearance in court.
“Smollett voluntarily appeared on national television speaking about the incident in detail,” Watkins said. “After the March dismissal, he stood in front of numerous cameras... in the courthouse lobby speaking about the case.”
“These are not the actions of a person seeking simply to maintain his privacy or simply to be let alone," Watkins added.
Watkins did not accept Smollett's attorneys' arguments that their client was entitled to a "right to privacy," adding that the public interest, in this case, outweighed the need to keep the documents sealed.
The Smollett case exposed a series of crazy policies at work inside the Cook County State's Attorney's office. In addition to what is likely preferred treatment given to Smollett, a celebrity, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx is now accused of agreeing to lenient sentences in a variety of cases, in the name of a more "progressive" approach to justice, which is not in her job description.
In one case, Foxx's office seems to have allowed a violent offender to end his own probation and house arrest simply by disabling his ankle monitor. That POS then went on to murder an off-duty Chicago police officer and severely wound another.
Oh well, it's the thought that counts.
Foxx needs to go down for this. Testimony may appear publicly as soon as tomorrow.
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