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Al Sharpton, on the sidelines of a meeting with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, said Thursday that the star of "Empire" Jussie Smollett would face "the obligation to make accounts "to the maximum if the actor had organized last month an attack described as hate crime.
"Whoever is wrong should pay the maximum. If Smollett is wrong, he should face the maximum of responsibility, "the filmmaker and activist press told reporters on Thursday after lunching with Senator Harris at Sylvia's, an iconic restaurant in the Harlem neighborhood of New York.
Harris, who originally described the incident as "modern day lynching," made no additional statements about the case in the light of recent developments.
SMOLLETT OF POLICE CHICAGO
Sharpton spoke a few hours after Smollett surrendered to the authorities and was accused of filing a false police report, linked to allegations that he orchestrated the attack on himself. Police said that the actor, who is black and gay, had hired two brothers who are also black to stage what the actor reported being a racist and homophobic attack against him early on Jan. 29 in downtown Chicago.
When Smollett claimed to have been attacked for the first time, Sharpton showed his support for the actor.
But on Sunday, after much information that Smollett orchestrated the incident, Sharpton changed his tone.
"Let's get to the bottom of things and do justice, no matter who's right or wrong," he said in his MSNBC "Politics Nation" program.
Sharpton, a New York-based Baptist minister who unsuccessfully presented at the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election, hit the headlines in the 1980s as a leader. Tawana Brawley's words in what turned out to be a false assertion that she was allegedly raped by four white men.
"There were no steps. There were no demonstrations here. We reacted to information, particularly to President Trump, who called him horrible. So I think it went through all the lines, considering Mr. Smollett's fame, "Sharpton said Thursday, defending his earlier remarks.
& # 39; THE VIEW & # 39; BAFFLED BY SMOLLETT CASE
Sharpton said he and Harris had not discussed the Smollett case during their half-hour lunch.
"We were talking about criminal justice reform. We were talking about economic inequality, "he explained.
"She clearly explained how we had to deal with the disparity of sentences," he said of his conversation with Harris. "We also talked a lot about the right to vote. She is very concerned about the removal of voters. "
Yet in the first attack, the California senator and former state attorney general tweeted, "It was an attempt at lynching modern times. Nobody should have to fear for his life because of his sexuality or the color of his skin. We must confront this hatred. "
On Monday, campaigning in New Hampshire, the candidate was asked to address the changing details of the case. She said, "I think the facts are still unfolding, and, um, I'm very very worried about, obviously, the first allegation, um, that she's made about what could have happened . "
"And that's something we should all take seriously whenever someone, uh, alleges that kind of behavior, but that there should be an investigation," Harris added. "And I think once the investigation is over, we can all comment, but I will not do it until I know the result of the investigation."
The Democratic presidential candidate, Cory Booker, had also initially condemned the alleged attack on Smollett, calling it an "attempt at modern lynching." I am happy that he is safe. To members of Congress who do not feel the urgency of adopting our anti-lynching bill, which calls lynching a federal hate crime, I urge you to pay attention.
While campaigning in New Hampshire last weekend, Booker said, "I'm going to keep [comment] until all the information actually comes from registered sources. "
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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