Despite Jussie Smollett's criminal conviction for staging a fake hate crime, Vice President Kamala Harris has not deleted her social media post calling him a victim of an attempted "modern day lynching." The post was made before the facts of the case were fully known.
Vice President Kamala Harris has faced criticism for her defense of Jussie Smollett, the actor who staged a fake hate crime in 2019. In a social media post at the time, Harris expressed support for Smollett and condemned the alleged attack. However, Smollett was later convicted on five of six charges of disorderly conduct for the incident.
Harris' post has been criticized as a "rush to judgment" that showed a "hasty decision before all the facts are known," according to Eugene Roy, a retired Chicago Police Department chief of detectives. Roy said that while it is understandable to express support for a friend, government officials should do so in a way that does not call into question the integrity of the judicial process.
Kamala Harris' Defense of Jussie Smollett Hoaxer Remains After Conviction
Harris is not the only Democrat who initially supported Smollett. President Biden also issued a tweet condemning the purported hate crime. However, both Harris and Biden have since said they were disappointed by Smollett's actions.
Smollett has appealed his conviction to the Illinois Supreme Court, arguing that his trial violated his Fifth Amendment protections against double jeopardy. He has also claimed that he already performed community service and forfeited a $10,000 bond as part of a 2019 deal with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office to drop the initial 16 counts of disorderly conduct.
Kamala Harris' Defense of Jussie Smollett Hoaxer Remains After Conviction
The case has raised concerns about the role of race and politics in the justice system. Some have argued that Smollett's initial support from prominent Democrats was based on a rush to judgment and a desire to show solidarity with a Black and gay man who was allegedly the victim of a hate crime.
However, others have defended Harris and Biden's initial statements, arguing that they were based on the information available at the time and that they have since expressed disappointment with Smollett's actions.
Kamala Harris' Defense of Jussie Smollett Hoaxer Remains After Conviction
The case also highlights the importance of thorough investigations and due process in the justice system. Roy said that off-the-cuff reactions to high-profile legal cases can "cast a shadow" over public perception of the justice system.
"People see who has made hasty judgments about controversial issues and, hopefully, they keep that in mind when they evaluate the merits of the candidates," Roy said.
Kamala Harris' Defense of Jussie Smollett Hoaxer Remains After Conviction
