our thoughts aree with jussie smollett. it's a tragic reminder they're racism and homophobic are rampant in the u.s. bernie sanders jumped in, and maxine waters announced she was dedicated to finding the culprits.xi cher joined in. she went on a rant and blamed trump. katie perry said she was standing with jussie smollett. joy reid called it a chilling attack. on tv the hot takes were just as bad. r >> you think about what just happened to jussie smollett in chicago. unfortunately we have racism germinating from the white house. >> jussie smollett is love. that's who he s. that's all he knows. in this situation hate won't win. >> the media is saying this is a debate. what happened to jussie smollett is a hate crime. this iss not [bleep] a debate. >> the u.s. congressman from illinois calls for an immediate and sweeping civil rights investigation into the racist and homophobic attack on jussie smollett. >> i don't like that this is a possible hate crime. >> the media has really cast so much doubt on his story which i find so

as jussie smollett found out. if you want racists to hang a noose around your neck you have to buy body builders to do it and the growing rate was $3500. that's not cheap but it's a rare commodity. but abc news was not aware of any of this. it's always 1958 in mississippi. so to abc news this sounded plausible. jussie smollett took full advantage of it. watch this. >> i see the attacker masked. he said, this is maga country, [bleep] and punches me right in the face. >> there is no doubt in your mind what motivated this attack? >> i can only go off of their words. who says [bleep], this is maga country? ties a news around your neck and pours bleach on you. >> tucker: downtown chicago. such a seething hot pedof support for donald trump that the progressive black actors can't walk down the street without risking being lynched. it's maga country in chicago. who would not laugh? robin roberts of abc did not laugh and she left jussie smollett keep rolling. >> why do you think you were targeted? >> i can just assume. i c

so far no sign of jussie smollett or his attorney. yesterday, the judge told the attorneys that when a verdict come in, he would like them back in courthouse in a matter of about 30 minutes. so it looks like smollett and his team is passed that 30 minute mark. we will keep you updated on that front. in all deliberated about 9 hours total. seven two hours yesterday, seven hours today. we did not get word of the jury asking any questions or any difficulties. it was a very quiet day here in the courthouse. yesterday, before going home, the jury asked for one thing. they asked for a copy of a prosecution exhibit of a calendar that had red x marks on it indicating important dates in this trial. jussie smollett and his family walked into this courthouse every day locked in arms. jussie smollett was often assisting his elderly mother. is he charged with six low level felony counts of lying to police. police and the six counts represent each time they feel jussie smollett lied to them. and there are varying charges, including lying about a ha

that's jussie smollett. his attorneys and his family and the prosecutors are also here, wait to go hear what the jury decides. he's facing six charges. >> the jury, the judge will come in, all the attorneys will be there, and we'll have coverage once that verdict is announced. we'll get back to you once we know. we'll find out fairly soon. >>> stand by. i want to get back to the january 6th investigation right now. lots going on here in washington. jami jamie gangel, dana bash and dave -- dave, this ruling against president trump is a clear win for the select committee. how could this potential play out? we're all assignmenting that the former president's lawyers will try to go to the supreme court for another round. >> first we have to get through a motion for rehearing. after that's denied, then there's a petition to get this heard before the supreme court. there's no guarantee the supreme court will hear this case. in fact the ruling today seemed to be designed to make it favorable to this conservative su

smollett is a convicted felon.

smollett's lawyer has suggested the brothers were motivated by greed and their dislike of smollett, claiming the brothers tried to get $1 million from the actor. but the brothers, aspiring actors, say they worked with smollett in hopes of advancing their careers. the prosecution saying smollett staged the attack for publicity. the jury could get the case later today. the charges against smollett for allegedly lying to police carry a three-year prison sentence. but if found guilty, experts say he'd likely face probation or community service. mona, ike? >> kristine, thanks. >>> prince harry is getting some attention for comments about jobs and mental health. in an interview with fast company, harry said quitting a job that doesn't bring you joy can be good for your mental health. harry also said he realizes some people's struggles which are just now being talked about have been brewing for quite some time. some people online praised him for his outlook. harry quit being a working member of britain's royal family in 2020. >> just to confirm, this job brings us joy. we're here. we're not leaving

our top stories: guilty of faking a hate crime: ajury in chicago convicts the american actor jussie smollett. 26 chicago police officers spent 3,000 hours of time for a fake crime that never occurred, and by the way, a fake crime that denigrates what a real hate crime is. an unofficial tribunal in london finds evidence of crimes against humanity and genocide against china's uyghur minority. the pressure grows on boris johnson as an investigation into covid rule—breaking is expanded to cover three parties at downing street. and workers at a starbucks coffee shop in upstate new york vote to start a union. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. ajury in chicago has found actorjussie smollett guilty of staging a hate crime against himself. mr smollett, who is african—american and openly gay, was accused of orchestrating homophobic attack against him by people impersonating supporters of then—president donald trump in 2019 to generate publicity after reportedly being annoyed by his treatment on the tv show he was starring in at the time. special prosecutor daniel web

smollett himself. and piece by piece, over the course of his testimony, his attorneys tried to take him through some of the major points in the prosecution's case, to push back and emphasize to jurors, as they have all along, that jussie smollett was the victim of a real hate crime. almost three years after reporting a hate crime -- >> how you feeling today? >> reporter: -- actor jussie smollett took the stand in his criminal trial monday, as he fights charges that he staged the attack against himself in january 2019. >> do you want to take it off or anything? >> i do. i want to see. they poured poli ed bleach on m >> reporter: on the police video footage, smollett said the attackers put a noose around his neck, even policeured bleach oue his apartment. the attackers, osendaro. one said that smollett instructed them on how to attack him. mr. smollett asked you to fake attack him, mendenhall asked? yes, osundairo responded. pretending to be trump supporters? yes, he said. but under direct examination fr

and smollett declined to foully cooperate. smollett taking the stand in his own trial, testifying the ordeal was not a hoax, calling the 0 sun dario brothers, who say they were hired to carry out the attack, liars and contradicting their testimony. then, smollett himself testified that he and one of the brothers had sexual encounters. 0 sun dario on the stand, saying, "i don't recall." smollett on the witness stand for a day and a half testified the brothers tried to extort $2 million from him to, quote, go away, but during cross examination, then said the brothers never directly contacted him for the money. and david, if convicted, smollett could face up to three years behind bars, but that's unlikely, because he does not have a previous criminal record. he would likely just face probation or community service. closing arguments are set to begin tomorrow. david? >> all right, alex perez following the case for us in chicago. alex, thank you. >>> and when we come back here tonight, the dramatic call for help. the plane in troub

they are battery because jussie smollett was injured and they were also hate crime because jussie smollett is a black gay man. in all the jury deliberated about nine hours total. seven hours today. two hours yesterday. they only came back with one question. they wanted a copy of the prosecution's calendar which had giant red x marks ton indicating important dates in this trial. jussie smollett will now be sentenced in a matter of couple of weeks. we are waiting for jussie smollett to walk through this lobby. each and every day he has walked through this lobby with his mother usualry locked in arms. his mother is elderly had difficulty walking. almost all of his five siblings has been in the courtroom and that has been strong stroicial see his family show up to support him. we do expect to hear from one of jussie smollett's attorneys as well. tammy? >> tammy: also here tonight to unwrap all of this jonathan turley, george washington law professor and fox news contributor. jonathan, thank you very much for being a man in demand here. what i enjoyed as we led up to this your column explaining

jussie smollett found guilty. will democrats in the media correct the record after pushing the hoax? carley: joe concha will hold the media accountable, nobody does it better than joe. when it comes to autism, finding the right words can be tough. finding understanding doesn't have to be. together, we can create a kinder, more inclusive world for the millions of people on the autism spectrum. go to autismspeaks.org . . you, getting on that flight? back off, uc! stelara® may increase your risk of infections, some serious, and cancer. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, sores, new skin growths, have had cancer, or if you need a vaccine. pres, a rare, potentially fatal brain condition, may be possible. some serious allergic reactions and lung inflammation can occur. lasting remission can start with stelara®. janssen can help you explore cost support options. nurse mariyam sabo knows a moment this pure... ...demands a lotion this pure. new gold bond pure

telling a very different story, the osundairo brothers, associates of smollett who say smollett paid them $3500 and orchestrated the attack himself. he said smollett wanted me to beat him up. smollett insisting he wrote his friend, a personal trainer, a check for nutrition and workout advice and nothing else. smollett also testified that he and osundairo -- including video allegedly showing the brothers buying supplies for the attack with money they say smollett gave them. smollett has repeatedly denied staging the attack himself. he's pleaded not guilty to six disorderly conduct charges. >> this is a case that will come down to the ability and skill of the prosecutor to cross-examine him and then sum up all his inconsistencies. >> reporter: under cross-examination so far, prosecutors questioned why smollett refused to cooperate with investigators and did not turn over cell phone or medical records if he was truly a victim of a crime. smollett saying he was concerned about his privacy. >> he deserves his day in court first. and i can't reiterate enough how badly he was convicted in t

. >> jesse smollett taking the stand. testifying under oath. >>> school officials in oxford, michigan, under scrutiny the growing calls to investigate their actions before a student opened fire. >>> president biden prepares for a high stakes call with vladimir putin. >>> a ceo fires 900 employees over zoom. and remembering bob dole war hero and american statesman. >>> live from cnbc, the facts. the truth. "the news with shepard smith." >>> good evening covid omicron is spreading the science, however, is still out on how it will impact the pandemic local and federal leaders are taking preemptive action now with new requirements and new mandates but as we all await more data, it's delta that's causing serious problems and remains the most imminent concern. the cdc director says delta still accounts for nearly all new infections nationwide. we're once again averaging about 120,000 cases a day. johns hopkins reports that's the highest total since late september. covid hospitalizations are also rising once again. they've incre

smollett testifying, no, i don't know webb asking smollett if he recognized abel's voice. smollett saying in that moment, i'm not going to stop and say, hey, abel, is that you smollett was getting irritated today with the line of smollett told the prosecutor you questioning. telling the prosecutor you do not understand instagram during a break, smollett and his family went up to the woman that does the court sketches. they asked her to make him look cuter. closing statements are tomorrow, shep. >> thanks very much, perry russom >>> two teenaged girls found dead in the woods in their hometown it happened years ago, but they never found the killer tonight, though, police reveal a fake social-media account. one, they hope could be the key to solving the case. >>> defunding the police it's actually happening now in one community after a unanimous city council vote just last night. where some of the funds are headed and what sparked the move. >>> and hertz bouncing back after bankruptcy what the popular car rental company just did that has customers and a sitting-u.s. senator d

gave them to buy supplies for the attack tonight smollett insisting he's innocent with smollett expected to be the last witness, the jury could get the case as soon as tomorrow he faces up to three years in prison if convicted. the city of chicago is also suing smollett in civil court for the cost of the police investigation, $130,000 lester >> all right ron allen in chicago tonight. >>> in michigan this evening, the investigation of the parents of the suspect in that deadly high school shooting has expanded with police now questioning a man that gave him a place to stay his lawyer saying he did not know they were fugitives at the time. here is megan fitzgerald >> reporter: tonight new details about what the parents of the suspected school shooter were allegedly doing when police say they were on the run andrÉs sikora who police say is a person of interest now speaking to investigators. james and jennifer crumbley were found inside his art studio this weekend police say the crumbleys had withdrawn $4,000 from the atm. sikora's attorney said he didn't know they were fugitives that the co

turns out jussie smollett data to jussie smollett. some people say this was a rush to judgment. what do you think of that? >> i don't think it was a rush to judgment. i think it was deliberate weather was true or not. for leading democrats and liberals in the media this had nothing to do with jussie smollett making sure he was okay, showing concern for someone who might have been attacked in a brutal way, this was about reinforcing the narrative a bunch of white male trump supporters running around the country attacking people. that president had unleashed the ugly underbelly of the country of bigotry, hatred, homophobia, racism and perpetuating the myth over and over because they knew there was another election coming up and having many voters, independent voters believe that was the case would benefit them politically. carley: black lives matter came out in support of jussie smollett regardless of the verdict saying it is not about a trial verdict by white supremacist charade, they say black people can never believe the police. sound like he was proven to be lying. he is still

. >>> jussie smollett convicted. a jury finds the actor guilty of staging a hate crime and lying to police. why he may not end up behind bars at all. >>> campus shooting plot. a florida student is accused of threatening to carry out colu columbine-style attack. the social media post that alerted students and police. >>> good morning and good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. we start with breaking news. at least 54 migrants were killed and dozens more injured after a cargo truck crashed in mexico. it happened in the southern part of the country. the vehicle was carrying as many as 200 people including children who were likely headed to the u.s. mexican authorities said the sheer weight of the load combined with speed and a nearby curb may have caused the truck to tip over. many migrants said it felt like the truck was speeding before the crash happened. it's one of the single most high days for death tolls in decades. >>> lawyers for actor jussie smollett plan to appeal. he was found guilty. he remained stoic as

last week able testified smollett texted him about talking on the low able says that's when smollett asked him for help with the attack today smollett telling jurors the text was about getting his hands on an herbal weight loss steroid that's illegal in the u.s. smollett's defense team says the brothers are making the allegations because they did not like smollett and were looking to make some money the defense says the brothers asked for $1 million each to not testify. the brothers said that's not true this has become a he said they said situation smollett now telling his side of the story after the brothers told their side of the story all that matters is what the jury has to say. this could go to them tomorrow >> perry russom, thank you david henderson now, civil rights attorney, cnbc contributor. another high profile defendant takes the stand in his defense right move in this case? >> shep, i think it's the only move in this case. it's hard to say it's the right move, because there are really only two reasons you do this, either because you're legally obligated to, like kyl ritte

also in court a tense moment jussie smollett interrupt intriewlted webb reading verbatim one of smollett's messages that had the "n" word in it he asked him to spell the "n" word will out of respect for african-americans. he complied and asked him to read his own mess sandals allude. he insist own personal messages and phone call with osundairo personal training and 9:00 a.m. workout training. he asked smollett why none of his messages discussed or even canceled a 9:30 a.m. workout session. smollett fired back that none of his messages revealed anything about an alleged hoax. also yesterday, on the stand, jussie smollett testified that don lemon sent him a text message indicating that chicago police were not big smollett's story. there was no follow up from that and that did not coming up in court again today. we will be in court tomorrow. there is a possibility of a verdict. tammy? >> tammy: wow that would be quick but once again a fascinating day. thank you, matt. appreciate it we already knew the role that media played in hyping smollett's hate crime hoax. but what we didn't know is som

and smollett testified that bolla had previously asked smollett to be his security, so much so to the point that smollett thought it was a running joke, but that after this letter was received, those asks only intensified. and the reason that's important is because the defense has argued that one of the reasons that they believe the osendaro brothers carried out a real attack is because they were trying to intimidate him into hiring them, or at least bolla, for security. >> got it. so he also alleged a relationship with one of the brothers. how does that affect the case? >> well, that was something that came in contrast to what bolla osendaro testified. smollett said he had multiple sexual encounters with bolla, which bolla denied at previous testimony. but the reason that's important is because the defense has argued that one of the motivators for the osendaro brothers doing this, what they say is a real hate crime attack isola, the brother being homophobic. that may have been one of the drivers of this. so that was really getting to the heart of that argument. smollett said he didn'

jussie smollett is guilty. a judge set a hearing for late next month and then a sentencing date will be determined later. this is a live look outside the courthouse our producers there have not said that jussie smollett has come out these doors he and an entourage with lawyers went in, but we haven't yet seen them come out. we'll wait for that and should the lawyers take to the microphones we'll bring it live. but first, david henderson, civil rights attorney, cnbc contributor. david, the problem here was the stories -- one story had facts behind it and another story didn't >> yes, shep, that's right you could tell this from the beginning because originally they were investigating in order to prosecute the people accused of attacking mr. smollett, there was no way they were going t reverse on him unless they thought they had a strong case and ultimately when he took the stand there was things he couldn't explain, like the $3,500 payment >> what do you expect would happen now the lawyers i've spoken with and i t

the verdict in the jussie smollett trial. guilty on five of six accounts. authorities said the actor staged a racist and homophobic attack on himself, after he told police he was walking home when two men attacked him, yelling slurs and putting a noose around his neck. the actor standing by his claims, taking the stand in his own defense. again, guilty on five of six accounts and alex perez with late reporting. >>> also breaking tonight, just 24 hours after pfizer said early data shows the booster does work, bringing the level of antibodies back up to peak protection, tonight, the cdc now giving the green light for boosters for 16 and 17-year-olds. and what dr. rochelle walensky just said about 12 to 15-year-olds. as the u.s. military tonight now helps in several states amid this new surge. still from delta and this new variant now in at least 22 states tonight. and the sobering warning in the uk. what they're seeing right now. >>> tonight, authorities say the chilling plot, a student accused of planning another columbine, in their words. what they say they

smollett's defense told the jury that jussie smollett had an anti motive here. he had a historical gay marriage on tv and a pending music video shoot. he didn't want his faces damaged and paid the osundairo brothers $3,500 for training. the defense reminded the jury that a security guard backed up smollett's testimony that he said he say a white person run in a flash. jussie smollett is charged with six counts of lying to the police. the judge has kept the jury until 8:00. so it's possible that they will be charged late in the evening hours. we'll keep you updated. >> martha: thanks, matt finn covering that story in chicago. let's bring in mike eiglarsh. good to see you. listening to matt's report and taking a look at the closing arguments, what is compelling to you. what stands out in the seat of this jury? >> you've got two completely different versions of events. either they can go with option number 1, which story is extremely bizarre or option number 2, which is really bizarre. both stories are incredible. either that he faked his own beating or his version

's b1 justice was done today with actor jussie smollett c laura: justice was a factor jussie smollett convicted by a jury of his peers on 5 of 6 accounts related to the 2019 fake racial attack in chicago. important to remember, outlandish accusations were aired uncritically for two weeks. this was a narrative that confirmed the left's worst views about america, attackers in amaga had from anti-gay slurs, a black man in a white supremacist country. >> jussie smollett was viciously beaten, we know it was a hate crime. >> for his well-being. every day, you think i am annoying. i want to know that you are okay. >> this is happening for a reason, coming from the president of the united states, dog whistling every day, separating and dividing. laura: today's verdict wasn't just an indictment of jussie smollett but of the entire leftist media apparatus and political elites who parroted his lies from the start. joining as a civil rights activist and founder of the woodson center. what is the big lesson going forward here? >> thanks for having me back. first of all, the lesson is america's jud

. >>> actor jesse smollett is a witness in his own trial and tells the jury, there is no hoax >>> russia is amassing 100,000 strong along the ukraine border. today biden and putin go face-to-face. >>> a mysterious untimely death of the 2021 kentucky derby winner what happened? >>> are we at the beginning of a possible santa claus rally for stock? "early today" starts right now good morning, i'm frances rivera >> i'm phillip mena. >>> cases are climbing in at least 22 states. efforts are ramping up to slow the spread, including a sweeping new vaccine mandate for new york city and international travel restr restrictions now in effect here's nbc news' chris pollone. >> reporter: with cases of the new omicron variant growing in the u.s. and around the world, new rules are in effect for people coming to the u.s. from overseas travelers need a negative covid test within 24 hours of departure. pcr tests are send not all self tests are eligible a. teledoctor must witness the test. >> safe check everything, yes. they're very strict. >> reporter: in an attempt to head off a winter surge, new york

what if smollett could find perjury charges as well? criminal defense attorney farmer and brian claypool, welcome to you both. >> hi, shannon. >> shannon: one of the things that matt talked about today, he tweeted out and the prosecutor's closing arguments, the six things they say proved he was lying. matt we did, the numbers smollett never signed criminal complaint against osundairos. the police had brothers in custody and smollett indicated he signed the complaint but did not. briana, will that sway the jury? >> i think it will sway the jury, but i think there is other evidence that is going to sway the jury even more and i think the big gaping hole, like a sink hole in the defense in this case, shannon is there is absolutely no motive, zero motive for the osundairo brothers to commit this crime. remember, whether we like it or not, jurors like to have a connection. why did somebody commit a crime? and here, i think smollett damaged himself by testifying that he actually had an affair, a relationship with one of the osundairo brothers

smollett claims he was assault by two men. brothers ola and abel osundairo testified they were paid $3500 by smollett to carry out the staged attack. supporters of smollett are confident jurors will believe him. >> jussie could easily have copped a plea with a slap on the wrist, and then moved on with his life. but he chose instead to stand up to injustice. >> reporter: closing arguments are slated for tomorrow, and then the jury will get this case. if convicted, smollett faces up to three years in prison. norah. >> o'donnell: charlie de mar, thank you. well, there is news tonight from instagram, which has been under fire.ve today, the social media giant unveiled new measures it says are aimed at protecting teens from harmful content. it all comes as the company's c.e.o. is set to testify on capitol hill tomorrow amid allegations that instagram can be toxic for teenagers, especially girls. here's cbs' kris van cleave. >> reporter: on the eve of a social media showdown with senators, instagram says it will take a stricter appro

smollett will likely be the last witness for the night. this case could be in the jury's hands as soon as tomorrow, and if convicted, smollett could serve up to three years in prison. norah. >> o'donnell: charlie de mar, thank you. tonight, more fallout for former cnn host chris cuomo. he says he's quitting his sirius xm radio show called "let's get after it" cuomo was fired over the weekend after hit with a sexual harassment allegation, charges he denies. he was suspended from the network after new details surfaced about his efforts to help his brother then new york governor andrew cuomo fight off allegations. back here in washington, the body of bob dole will lie in state in the u.s. capitol rotunda thursday. he died sunday at age 98. dole, a republican from kansas is being remembered by members of both parties for devoting his life to public service. here's cbs' major garrett. >> reporter: senator bob dole embodied what many believe washington needs now, a good humored party loyalist who cared deeply about making government work. >> som

but as with the defense of smollett, the facts don't matter. he's a black man's way must be innocent. the system cannot be trusted." chris, your thoughts. >> that phrase, facts don't matter, it's at the heart of what we're talking about. critical race theory for the last 30 years has argued there is no such thing as objective truth. they have argued that idea rationality evidence empirical data are figments of white supremacy. there's no truth, no objectivity, no facts, only subjective feelings. even though jussie smollett obviously all the evidence suggested he orchestrated a hate crime hoax. his feeling of being oppressed, being attacked overrides any factual or objective evidence. the whole world becomes their perception. they believe in their heart that white supremacy is the dominant feature. it must be destroyed and they are willing to do or say whatever it is no matter what the facts and work to achieve it. >> mike: after doing a lot of reporting on what's been going on in our schools i have talked to a lot of parents who say there are p

jussie smollett testified under oath as there was no hoax. smollett and his defense team are trying to discredit the chicago police and the osundairo brothers and create some doubt from the jury. at some of the highlights from smollett on the stand today. smollett says he did not call police after his alleged attacks because as a black man "he does not trust bullies." that also explained that on the night of the attack, one of the osundairo brothers called him and told him he needed to eat some eggsda in order to keep up with thisto meal plan, so that s why smollett went to a nearby walgreens and a subway after 1:00 a.m. on a frigid night. he testified that he did have sexual encounters with one of the osundairo brothers and one of the osundairo brothers provided him drugs. that is going against what of the osundairo brothers set on the stand last week. smollett insists he has a scar under one of his eyes because he did suffer from real injuries, although the northwestern doctor who testified last week said that after he reviewed jussie smoll

todd: will the defense regret putting smollett on the stand? >> hard things to say but sometimes you are driven by the actor with the defendant but especially if they feel they need to tell their story. that's not going to do him any favors because the jury will look at fine detail about everything he says. i love that lien in the cage and their scoring points. >> i wouldn't want to be on the other side of your cross-examination. hopefully never i will get there. todd: it is not like lying about lying. thank you. one of bill deblasio's final acts in office, vaccine mandate for the private sector and mask mandate for kids as young as 5. todd: a group of concerned parents on deck, you don't want to miss it. ♪♪ finding understanding doesn't have to be. together, we can create a kinder, more inclusive world for the millions of people on the autism spectrum. go to autismspeaks.org my retirement plan with voya keeps me moving forward. they guide me with achievable steps that give me confidence. this is my granddaughter...she's cute like her grand

jussie smollett lied. it is actually the greatest racial hoax that has taken place at least in the last three decades. you should face way deeper charges that he is facing right now. in my opinion, kim fox should be on the stand for lessening the charge against him. >> tucker: you wonder -- i guess is inverted part of this, you got caught, you are busted, you did it. it is kind of insulting to the rest of us to pretend you didn't win clearly you did and moreover you wonder, what percentage of the population will believe that he was framed or whatever? >> absolutely nobody believes this but jesse and the people that want him to get off. his solution is, i told a really big lies i'm going to tell an even bigger lied to try to get away with it. i'm going to move from one conspiracy theory to the next. the last thing i will say is just imagine if the roles were reversed. imagine if two white men pretended that two black men had attacked them. what would the media be saying right now? what be the charges? what

if that was the case, smollett would go on his show. he went on abc with robin roberts and do an interview at that point. this was more lemon injecting himself here. look, i really paid attention to what john malone had to say on cnbc recently. he's cnn's leading shareholder. he's a big deal in media. he says cnn has to get back to doing journalism. he praised fox news in the process while on cnbc. what a world. but you'll see major changes coming to cnn in 2022. the question is can you put humpty dumpty back together. my kids say no, it cannot be done. >> sean: i'm going to let that one go. you leave it wide open for me. clay travis, your take. >> look, don lemon at a minimum should have to address his audience and explain why his name was involved in court testimony. it's worth repeating that why don't trust jussie smollett very much. so exactly what he was saying don lemon did could be that he was trying to get an interview and be as friendly as possible in the hopes that that was going to end up happening. is he truly was involved i

that was a perfect, perfect statement to jussie smollett. i suggest he thinks about it long and hard. i am so glad to be back with you. judge: we love having you back. but one thing before i go on. i have been saying this forever the juries do the right thing you have written house you have this trial, injuries don't care about color or agenda they care about the fact he double down and took the stand and lied that infuriates me it's one thing to plead not guilty it's another to have the prosecution if you get on the stand and you double down when it was so ridiculous? >> and to be very specific and arrogant but you hit on something that is very important for the american people to understand. this is even bigger than the jussie smollett case this is how profitable victimhood is. he paid folks to stage a hate crime against him at nearly four grand that is how much he was willing to pay to get his name in the headlines and be a victim he is so celebrated that people are willing to go to this link for some publicity and public pity and further

smollett just testified against all of it. he said he had fame and fortune and making $2 million from the final system of empire and had plenty of cash. he said that he and one of the brothers would have sexual relations and that he would bring him cocaine. the question is turning towards training. jussie smollett paid them $3,500 to be the guys that beat him up. smollett is on the stand and we'll keep you updated. >> martha: very interesting developments in this case. let's bring in andrew stoltman and joe concha. great to have you both with us. andrew, what did you make of matt's report and what smollett is saying on the stand? >> he's really rolling the dice but he has to do that. the jury wants to hear from him. he has to counter act the testimony from the two brothers. the brothers' testimony has been devastating. he's admitting to stuff that doesn't make him look good but he has to let the jury know this isn't true, i'm testifying and i'm telling you i was a victim, which we snow isn't true. >> martha: it's interesting s

hate letter that smollett sent himself. smollett testified that his face is very important to him. he wouldn't set up a hoax. he needed to look like a black carrie grant. he testified that lee daniels, a creator of empire told him he was fat and that encouraged him to lose part for a music video. that's why he paid the smollett $3,500 to train him, not for the hoax. smollett is on the stand and will be there for several hours. the prosecution has not begun their cross examination. >> sandra: thanks, matt. let's get to mark eiglarsh. great to see you. so jussie smollett has taken the stand in his own defense. he said there was no hoax. has he been convincing today? >> probably not just yet. how do you deal with bizarre sensational hard to believe facts? you double up on them and come up with more bizarre sensational extraordinary facts. that's what he's doing. so you believe him or you don't. he needed to testify. he needs to look at the jurors and explain the overwhelming evidence that seems to suggest that he wasn't framed like the mona lisa, that he did do something so bizarre an

saying the attack was staged because they did not like smollett and tried to make some money smollett's attorney accusing the brothers of trying to get the actor to pay them $1 million each to not testify. when asked if that was true, abel responded, no, sir. abel says smollett wanted to be attacked to create media attention. >> i was talking to a friend and i said i want them to find them. >> reporter: abel testifies he text smollett the next day bruh, say it ain't true. i'm praying for a speedy recovery just as smollett told him to. >> reporter: the judge was making faces at them when they made objections. the judge said, nope not going to happen. no mistrial. this is day four of the trial and the judge says this could continue into next week. >>> the biden administration announcing it will restart a controversial trump era border policy next week under the remain in mexico policy, migrants who are seeking asylum need to wait outside the united states for their imbrags court hearing. president biden ended that policy after he took office and he called it in humane it can and missouri

smollett was taken away from the courtroom minutes after the verdict. both the prosecutor and the defense speaking out after the decision. >> this case is seriously flawed from the initial reception. >> mr. smollett would not have lost this case as he did today unless the jury found that he lied to them. >> reporter: smollett told investigators he was walking home from this subway shop when two men attacked him. the pair yelling slurs and putting a noose around his neck. but authorities questioned his story when he declined to cooperate with the investigation. >> the fact that he came one a ridiculous story to explain his misconduct did not apparently have an impact on the jury's verdict. >> reporter: the prosecution's star witnesses testified jussie smollett hired them to carry out the attack. smollett told the jury the attack was not a hoax, saying the brothers were trying to extort $2 million from them. he also testified that he and one of the brothers had sexual encounters. during cross-examination, he said the brothers never directly contacted him

jury did not find smollett guilty of aggravated battery. after the verdict, his attorney told me that smollett is disappointed but he feels confident in an appeal. his attorney also telling me that he does not agree with the jury because he feels like they can find smollett guilty on some of the charges but not all of them. special prosecutor dan webb, who investigated ken fox's office and determine she did not follow state law and recusing herself and ultimately got the charges reinstated against jussie smollett says he feels like this verdict sends a resounding message. he says he will not comment on kim fox's office initially dropping the charges but says the verdict speaks for itself. the prosecutor said two thinks he felt from the jury. number one, it was ridiculous he left home at 2:00 a.m. and end up at the exact intersection where they say he asked him to meet them. then saying he should meet with the newts around his neck. pictures show the news change location around his neck throughout the night. and dan webb says he also pursued

he was in that nebulous zone of jussie smollett. he is the principal in a case of a crime that he says happen. either way about a come as it turns out, he has been accused of making it all up. it is just not a good look, for don lemon. it is worth getting to the bottom of whether or not that journalism was put by the wayside and something else was going on. it is not a good look for him and cnn. not everybody performs this way as journalists. first of all, we would not be able to keep our sources. >> he is in his own hot water. he is facing sexual harassment charges of his own. he is a defendant. that also ties in with what does cnn know, and as we draw similarities between that and the chris cuomo situation, in terms of cnn and their response and whatnot, is that plays out. as well as this intersect between don lemon and jussie smollett. >> harris: what does cnn know seems to be something that we see a lot. it's only to say. >> we think about those topics between chris cuomo don lemon, just the host of problems that he could listen