BEGINNING.
>> Martha: DEVELOPMENTS
TONIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HERE NOW, THE CHICAGO POLICE
UNION VICE PRESIDENT WHO BLASTED
KIM FOX'S DECISION TO DROP THESE
DECISIONS AND CALLS FOR A
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND WERE
HANDLING THE CASE AS HE JUST
MENTIONED.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED HERE?
>> SOMETHING VERY DARK AND
SUSPICIOUS.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE
HAVE ATTACKED THE FOX
ADMINISTRATION SINCE SHE CAME
INTO OFFICE.
THERE IS SOMETHING --
THERE IS A LOT HERE THAT
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS NEED TO
WORK WITH.
WE DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT THE
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD
INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED HERE
AND LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE AND WE
CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE MAYOR'S
RHETORIC WILL TRANSLATE INTO THE
SAME CALL FOR FEDERAL
INVESTIGATION.
>> Martha: FLOODS PUT UP ON
THE SCREEN THE EXPLANATION FOR
THE DECISION TO DROP THE
CHARGES.
IT SAYS AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS
CASE INCLUDING JUSSIE SMOLLETT'S
VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND THE
COMMUNITY AND AGREEMENT TO
FORFEIT HIS BOND TO THE CITY OF
CHICAGO, WE BELIEVE THIS OUTCOME
IS A JUST DISPOSITION AND AN
APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION TO THIS
CASE.
ESSENTIALLY IT LOOKS LIKE, IT IS
NOT AN EXONERATION BUT IT SAYS
BECAUSE HE IS DONE SOME NICE
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND GOOD
THINGS FOR THE CITY AND BECAUSE
THE $10,000 BOND WILL BE GIVEN
BACK TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO,
THEY WILL CALL IT A DONE DEAL.
>> IT IS COMPLETE NONSENSE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
WE HAVE GOTTEN THIS FROM FOX ON
SEVERAL KEY CASES.
IT IS KIND OF A CHICAGO
DOUBLESPEAK.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT ALL OF THIS
IS THAT THE NATIONAL MEDIA GETS
A REALLY CLEAR WINDOW INTO HOW
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
WORKS OR I SHOULD SAY DOESN'T
WORK IN CHICAGO.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THINGS
WORK IN THE CITY.
IT IS LUDICROUS.
IT IS RIDICULOUS, BUT THAT IS
THE REALITY OF THINGS IN
CHICAGO.
>> Martha: I WANT TO PLAY ONE
MORE SOUND BITE FROM JUSSIE
SMOLLETT TODAY HE WAS VERY CLEAR
AND HOW HE FELT ABOUT ALL OF
THIS.
HE CLEARLY FELT THAT HE WAS
VINDICATED AND THAT HE HAD
EXPRESSED HIS INNOCENCE ALL
ALONG.
WATCH THIS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS FOR ATTEMPTING
TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT MAKE NO
MISTAKES AND WILL CONTINUE TO
FIGHT THE JUSTICE, EQUALITY OF
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
>> Martha: HE SAID HE WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS
IN TERMS OF HIS CASE.
WE KNOW THE TWO BROTHERS IN
TERMS OF THE POLICE
INVESTIGATION WERE FOUND --
THEY SPOKE OUT ABOUT WHAT THEY
SAID HE ASKED ENOUGH TO DO TO
CREATE THIS HOAX.
THAT WAS WHAT THEY SPOKE OUT
ABOUT.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
WHO DID THIS TO HIM AND WHERE
DOES THE INVESTIGATION GO NOW?
>> LETS ASK A FEW BASIC
QUESTIONS BEFORE THAT.
IF YOU WERE INNOCENT AND YOU
WERE BEING CHARGED WITH ALL OF
THIS, WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO GO TO
COURT AND PROVE YOUR INNOCENCE?
>> Martha: ABSOLUTELY.
>> WOULD NITRILE BE THE PLACE
WHERE YOU WOULD WANT TO GO AND
DESTROY YOUR ACCUSERS?
WHEN YOU HAVE A PROSECUTOR WHO
WAS WILLING TO BAIL YOU OUT, HIS
STATEMENTS ARE REALLY JUST
LAUGHING AT THE SYSTEM.
HE DISGUISES THEM IN THE
TRADITIONAL RHETORIC OF SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND WHAT NOT.
THAT HAS A COMMON TROPE IN
CHICAGO.
>> Martha: IT HAS A VERY
GENERAL STATEMENT.
HE IS SAYING THAT HE WAS A
VICTIM OF A STATE FARM.
AND YET HE PROFESSES NO OUTRAGED
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM FOR
FINDING THE PEOPLE WHO DID IT.
IF IN CASE THAT IS WHAT
HAPPENED.