Jussie Smollett Doubters See Validation in False Report Charge

“It’s time for members of the press, who rushed to judgment despite many past hoaxes, to admit they only want to see the worst in Trump and his supporters,” conservative blogger Mike Cernovich tells TheWrap

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The news Wednesday that Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report had many in the conservative media world who doubted the account criticizing those who didn’t.

“I’m relieved no actual hate crime against anyone who is black or gay was commited [sic],” Stephen Miller, a right-leaning media critic told TheWrap. “Activists in media and the left don’t seem so relieved. Which is telling.”

“I look forward to Ellen Page’s next appearance on Colbert,” Miller added, referring to the “Juno” star’s recent interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” in which she blamed Vice President Mike Pence for Smollett’s supposed attack.

The charges come just three weeks after Smollett told police that two men assaulted him near his home in Chicago, shouting homophobic and racist slurs, and referencing “MAGA.” Last week, two men were arrested and then released without charges after police cited new evidence. And Smollett was announced as a suspect on Wednesday, just hours before he was charged. Smollett has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have vowed to “mount an aggressive defense.”

After Smollett first reported that he was attacked, Hollywood stars including Ariana Grande, Shonda Rhimes and Andy Cohen came to his defense. But, conservative blogger Mike Cernovich told TheWrap he thinks Smollett had been used as a “pawn” in what called a “proxy war battle” between the two sides.

“When a tragedy happens, if we are honest with ourselves, we all know that feeling of, ‘I hope whoever did this was part of the other team,’” Cernovich told TheWrap. “This is our national sickness.”

“We don’t see people as people. Everyone is a pawn in our proxy war battle,” Cernovich added. “It’s time for members of the press, who rushed to judgment despite many past hoaxes, to admit they only want to see the worst in Trump and his supporters. And it’s time for all of us to end this Cold War that we are fighting against each other.”

Other conservative media figures indulged in a bit more Schadenfreude Wednesday evening.

Conservative writer and radio host Erick Erickson tweeted: “Guess the media will now drop covering the Smollett story lest there be a rush to judgment.”

Seth Mandel, the executive editor of the Washington Examiner, joked that he had “some thoughts” on Smollett, then began what looked like a thread of 376 missives.

Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist tweeted that if Smollett “did indeed plan this fake hate crime I hope he serves the maximum sentence in prison possible for this type of crime,” adding: “He tried to rip this country apart on lies.”

Curtis Houck, the managing editor Newsbusters, a conservative media-focused blog, killed two birds with one tweet, taking a swipe at Smollett as well as CNN’s “Situation Room” for meeting its “quota” for non-Russia related stories.

“It took almost half an hour, but just did a news brief on Jussie Smollett, which means they’ve fulfilled their quota for the hour on things not related to Russia,” he tweeted.

And Joel Pollack, host of “Breitbart News Tonight,” tweeted: “MAGA Country: The Jussie Smollett Story” — sort of “I, Tonya” sequel.”

See more reactions below.

https://twitter.com/ewerickson/status/1098353620137975808?s=11

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