Well it's been over a week, and there's still no witnesses or apparent evidence from Jussie Smollett's hate crime attack. Despite being in a city where there are cameras almost everywhere. I know, I know, insisting there should be evidence of a crime before the world goes mad is probably racism or bigotry, but someone's gotta insist on evidence. The thing is, the longer this Jussie Smollett thing drags on without evidence... I guess how long does it have to be before we can openly ask "Did this really happen?" I'm already a little suspicious based on the timing, but let's get into that later. The Chicago Police Superintendent has apparently said if it turns out Jussie Smollett is lying, he'll be held accountable.

Here's the other weird thing. According to Jussie, he was on the phone with his manager when the attack occurred. At 2 am. Which means maybe the phone itself can shine a light on what happened. Except Jussie isn't giving his physical phone to 5-o.

Jussie Smollett did not refuse to hand over phone records to cops ... rather, he didn't want to turn over his phone ... sources directly connected to Jussie tell TMZ.

If it's me, if I was attacked, if there was anyway I could help authorities get the attacker caught and put behind bars, I'm helping. Here's my phone, officers. You'll notice 90% of my photos are of my dogs. Here's a few of some mirror selfies for health progress's sake. We all have those days, you feel me? There are some text messages here in which I use words which aren't considered "ladylike" but we're all human. Just do whatever you can to find the shithead who attacked me, I want that MoFo behind bars. Since you'll see me use those words... here, here and here.

I understand a phone is personal. Why couldn't a lawyer step in and ensure police only search relevant parts of the phone? I'm honestly asking.

Then there's the rope itself, which Smollett had around his neck when he talked to police. According to CWB Chicago:

Rope: Investigators had been working to identify the source of the rope that Smollett said was tied around his neck in a noose during the attack. The FBI has extensive scientific resources and product samples that frequently allow its technicians to identify the manufacturer of rope and cord evidence.

In a simplified example, technicians could determine that the rope is made by “ABC Rope Company.” Investigators might contact ABC and learn that the particular variety recovered from Smollett is sold as a plain-label product through Walgreens stores. Investigators then ask Walgreens for records of transactions in which the rope was sold. The last step would be to identify the more promising purchases and to review surveillance video and financial records of those transactions.

So now we're going full CSI Chicago on this case. I can't wait to see what the investigation turns up regards who bought the rope.

But if you have a tip:

Again, a hate crime attack against a gay black man at 2 am in a part of the world colder than Antarctica to me just seems weird. Chicago isn't exactly Trump country. It's not really Republican country. Last I checked, Chicago was blue. Deep blue. A liberal bastion. I'm just saying.

Police are still treating this investigation as a hate crime investigation. My spidey senses are just tingling a little bit. Yours?

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