The politics of Jussie Smollett

CORRECTION: The original post stated that the charges against Smollett were misdemeanors.  In fact, each of the six charges against him were for Disorderly Conduct, each count representing a separate instance of allegedly lying to police.  Disorderly Conduct is a Class 4 felony in the State of Illinois.  I've corrected and revised the post.

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A jury in Chicago has found actor Jussie Smollett guilty of all but one of the criminal charges against him, all of which are Class 4 felonies.  It was politics, most of the way down:

• His criminal act, staging a fake hate crime and then lying to police about it, was motivated by his politics, probably coupled with a desire to raise his public profile
• When his hoax unraveled, the original decision by the local State's Attorney (that's what Illinois calls its district attorneys) not to pursue criminal charges against Smollett never has been explained to the public, but it may also have been a political calculation on the part of Cook County's progressive State's Attorney, who was preparing for a re-election bid
• The subsequent decision to reinstate the charges against Smollett, following an independent review of the case which was initiated in the wake of public outcry after charges had been dismissed, almost certainly was politically motivated.  The Chicago police, local and national media, and local public opinion all lined up against Smollett
• The State's Attorney's office didn't prosecute Smollett with one of its staff attorneys; it brought in former US Attorney Dan Webb, a very big gun to try a defendant facing a handful of minor charges.  The decision to hire Webb also seems to have been politically motivated, as the State's Attorney didn't want to bungle such a high profile trial
• The trial and verdict ... well, they don't strike me as particularly political.  From what I can tell from this distance, the jury probably came to the right decision

As for the sentencing, I guess we'll have to wait and see.  According to sentencing guidelines, Smollett could be facing anything from probation to three years in prison.  A lawyer friend tells me that your everyday, run-of-the-mill first time defendant found guilty of minor charges almost certainly wouldn't be given jail time.  

But there is practically nothing about Smollett's case which is run of the mill.  But I hope the judge treats him like any other defendant, slaps him on the wrist once or twice, perhaps levies a fine, and lets him get on with his life outside prison walls.  His career already has been wrecked.  I hope that suffices for angry Chicagoans who have been demanding a pound of Jussie Smollett's flesh.  It's enough for me.