CNN’s Don Lemon had three people on his mind as news circulated Wednesday evening that actor Jussie Smollett was going to be arrested: Fox News’ Sean Hannity, colleague Tucker Carlson and President Trump.
The host of “CNN Tonight” told a panel that he was worried how various cable news outlets would cover an arrest of Mr. Smollett, whose claims of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago fell apart as local police and the FBI investigated.
“This is playing out every single moment in cable news,” Mr. Lemon said. “Sean Hannity is going to eat Jussie Smollett’s lunch every single second. Tucker Carlson is going to eat Jussie Smollett’s lunch every single second. The president of the United States is going to eat his lunch, and who does the president of the United States watch every night? Cable news.”
The “Empire” actor claimed that two men with bleach and a rope beat him on Jan. 29 in sub-zero weather while warning him of walking around in “MAGA country.”
Brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo told police during their investigation that they were hired by the actor for an orchestrated attack.
Guest Midwin Charles, a criminal defense and civil trial attorney, then lamented a possible framing “that simply because of this one case that all the other victims that come forward are no longer believed.”
SEE ALSO: Jussie Smollett arrested, charged with felony disorderly conduct and making a false report
“It’s time that we stopped being led by other people’s narratives,” she said.
Mr. Smollett was arrest Thursday morning on charges of felony disorderly conduct and filing a false police report.
The actor could face up to three years in prison and potentially be required to reimburse the Chicago Police Department if he is found guilty of the charges against him.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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