Imagine our shocked faces when CNN went out on a limb and reported that Chicago police believe that “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett — wait for it — paid two men to orchestrate the alleged hate crime.

No way.

Chicago police think "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate the assault on himself, two police sources say https://t.co/GyOMPBEJ5i pic.twitter.com/RvuiTWWY30 — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 16, 2019

If CNN is going on record after leaving all the difficult work to local TV newsmen in Chicago, its sources must be pretty solid. CNN reports:

Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Chicago Police believe Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate the assault. The brothers, who were arrested Wednesday, were released without charges Friday after Chicago police cited the discovery of “new evidence.” The sources told CNN that the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement.

This seems to be the “new evidence” police have been talking about:

Smollett case news. Backing up @RaferWeigel report: @ABC confirms detectives were able to confront the 2 brothers

with evidence they purchased the rope found around Smollett’s neck at an Ace hardware store. The brothers agreed to cooperate with police. — Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 17, 2019

Chicago police have been going out of their way to say that Smollett is still being considered a victim; however, they’ve reportedly told his attorney they’d like to talk with him again in light of this new evidence.

Latest from @AJGuglielmi, Chicago police spokesman. He just told me on the phone: "After we spoke to the former suspects last night, detectives reached out to Jussie Smolletts's attorneys and expressed interest that we need to talk to him again." https://t.co/igy15koMql — Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) February 16, 2019

A spokesman for Fox says the networks has no comment at this time on the latest Jussie Smollett developments. — Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) February 17, 2019

Hmm … is CNN suggesting that the alleged racist and homophobic hate crime by two assailants with a noose yelling “This is MAGA Country!” was a setup this whole time?

It’s a good thing the Leftist politicians didn’t jump on this and blame Trump. — Matthew K. Hoadley (@mkhoadley) February 16, 2019

Paid them? Ooof. Seems like an aggravating factor. — J.G. Petruna (@jgpetruna) February 16, 2019

In a totally unexpected turn of events, cops say two men randomly carrying bleach & a noose around the MAGA country known as Chicago at 2am who recognized an "Empire" actor were paid by him to stage his assault. Knee-jerk scapegoating left hardest hit. https://t.co/LogZKBI7rO — Razor (@hale_razor) February 17, 2019

Actually surprised CNN got this tweet out without somehow blaming Trump. — Ben Denison (@RAB88) February 16, 2019

And all of the people who were saying:

"Jussie would never lie about something like this!"

will now switch their argument to:

"He lied about it because he knew that it would start a conversation that this country needs to have… WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION?!!" https://t.co/09jzndoRwc — Sean The Producer (@SeanTheProducr) February 17, 2019

We knew this 12 hours after the incident was reported. His story never added up. — TheRealPstabber™️ (@TheRealPstabber) February 17, 2019

This is peak TDS. — Dustin Craig (@dusty_craig) February 17, 2019

I was there, saw the whole thing pic.twitter.com/0A8Y4lmjoY — A$AP Brad (@severn58) February 16, 2019

Omg I'm shocked… NOT — Karla McGinty-Garza (@txangel821) February 17, 2019

Staging a hate crime should be a hate crime itself. — Andrew H. Scott (@CommissionerKY) February 17, 2019

What a damaging disservice. He’s done. — Hocking Hick (@HockingHick) February 17, 2019

“I will never be the man that this did not happen to.” Hah! — Matthew Tait (@MatthewTait237) February 16, 2019

I heard that too and was like ? Gave himself away. — Dallas Rico (@scandallas) February 17, 2019

It took two weeks to figure this out? — Jim Lewis (@Pitt_JimLewis) February 17, 2019

It didn’t. But with the relations the community and police have in Chicago they weren’t going to come out right away and say that this didn’t make sense. They’re saying it when it’s a done deal. — Rob (@FlyingPhotog1) February 17, 2019

Live look at many original commenters pic.twitter.com/PfxzwcRkVy — Jim Cure (@Cure243) February 17, 2019

Thought it was #MAGA supporters though? — James Berry (@1CallClose) February 17, 2019

Will Cory Booker and Kamala Harris apologize for calling this a lynching ? — Progressive GOP (@NixonandIke) February 17, 2019

He needs to go to jail. Police resources were used and diverted. Filed a false report. He is an embarrassment to all those he “spoke” for. — doberman818 (@dobergirl) February 17, 2019

If the police really thought that, would they have announced it to the media ? Or would have charged him something already — Shawn Lon (@ShawnSTOM777) February 16, 2019

If it’s been announced by two sources, that means they have everything they need by now. Arrest coming soon. — Bobwehadababyeetsaboy (@RobertR37626468) February 16, 2019

This young man may have a future as a CNN host. — Jerry Wuchte (@jerrywuchte) February 16, 2019

He makes his own fake news!

* * *

Update:

But wait, there’s more!

New: Sources—The brothers were paid $3,500 prior to leaving for Nigeria and were promised an additional $500 upon their return. @cbschicagohttps://t.co/22zRPCcYTe (Updated typo from previous tweet) — Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 17, 2019

https://twitter.com/CharlieDeMar/status/1096933982481117184https://twitter.com/CharlieDeMar/status/1096936997330010112

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