Now that Jussie Smollett’s apparently not going to face any consequences for his crimes, at least not at a local level, hopefully he’ll have some free time to send some flowers and chocolates to Brian Stelter. Because Stelter’s taking a break from fighting fires to be Smollett’s knight in shining armor:

From a source in Jussie Smollett's camp: "In 2 1/2 weeks this was turned around because he is innocent and was the victim of a hate crime." — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 26, 2019

Because Stelter traffics in bullsh*t.

"We may never really know what happened on that street in Chicago." –Stelter just now.https://t.co/WAln0PlV2x — David Rutz (@DavidRutz) March 26, 2019

This is not a drill:

Stelter pins the story getting political on … TMZ, for reporting Smollett said attackers had MAGA hats. Smollett told police and the world the attackers said this is MAGA country and explicitly charged he was targeted because he is anti-Trump. pic.twitter.com/6oQrjiHTIn — David Rutz (@DavidRutz) March 26, 2019

All from @brianstelter just now "The narrative has once again changed," he's gone from "victim to villain back

to victim." "It's been very confusing." "We may never really know what happened on the street that night in Chicago." pic.twitter.com/9iRDc3IxpX — David Rutz (@DavidRutz) March 26, 2019

It’s only confusing if you’re as willfully obtuse as Brian Stelter.

I didn't think Stelter could get worse. I was wrong. https://t.co/Xohyke92Xq — Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) March 26, 2019

He can always get worse.

Come on, @brianstelter, this is a BS cowardly statement and you know it. Smollett's lawyers admit that his friends are the ones who attacked him. That proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Smollett lied. https://t.co/Zw6B7JHmMl — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 26, 2019

And then there’s this:

We really do know. He paid two associates to stage a hate crime. We’ve literally seen the receipts. https://t.co/6YkyYVKM7t — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 26, 2019

We literally have:

The brothers were videotaped buying red hats. https://t.co/ftTP3RaFwV — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) March 26, 2019

I mean, debate about the motive for dropping the case all you wish, but we have his co-conspirators ON CAMERA buying the rope, bleach and red hats. This is hardly a whodunnit. — Esoteric Jeff (@EsotericCD) March 26, 2019

Hard to argue with that assessment. If he’s not the biggest, he’s definitely right up there. His hackery has officially reached “legendary” status.

But we're still pretty sure Michael Cohen was in Prague in 2016! https://t.co/CJJbFMnQZ4 — Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) March 26, 2019

Heh.

"We may never really know what happened" about a hoax documented with checks and videos is about five inches removed from "Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia" territory. https://t.co/MpU4uWBvwv — Tiana Lowe (@TianaTheFirst) March 26, 2019

It’s apparently also a hill that Stelter’s willing to die on:

Cool. Were you there that night? Smollett's camp says he was the victim of a hate crime. The police dispute that. There isn't video of the alleged attack. Thus, we may never know what really happened. — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 26, 2019

Dear God. That tweet deserves the ratio it’s getting:

Maybe Stelter’s most impressive accomplishment to date.

Smollett said his "attackers" were white. Now his attorney says they're the Nigerian brothers. The prosecutors *STILL* concede that his volunteer service & bond forfeiture is "just disposition," indicating that they continue to view him as culpable of some offense. Because he is. — Tiana Lowe (@TianaTheFirst) March 26, 2019

No, Brian, I was not there that night. But like you, I'm making a determination as a journalist, and the facts, from the video recordings & checks to Smollett's shifting story, overwhelmingly indicate that he lied & had Kim Foxx run interference for him. https://t.co/Lr1lxOZVRq — Tiana Lowe (@TianaTheFirst) March 26, 2019

Brian only puts #FactsFirst when they suit his narrative. Otherwise he’s perfectly happy to just make them up as he goes along.

Wow, he's really choosing to fight on this turf. I guess he thinks the video of the guys buying red hats is just coincidence. https://t.co/FRJicSOTqB — Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) March 26, 2019

This guy is 100× worse than Alex Jones. https://t.co/a7oeRRubNs — Lee Doren (@LDoren) March 26, 2019

Harvey Weinstein's lawyers on line one pic.twitter.com/QmxAKNrcTF — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) March 26, 2019

You're so full of crap I'm making Large Intestine your nickname. https://t.co/1L2rT1MHSu — Harold Stickeehans (@StickeeNotes) March 26, 2019

My advice: Log out. Put the phone down. https://t.co/2RH0a0qRyM — Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) March 26, 2019

Ummm…local reporters spent MONTHS tracking on this case. This isn't some "we have no idea what happened" situation. There was footage. There was sworn testimony. They made a deal, and there's political intrigue at play. What the hell? https://t.co/fhlRlcCQ6l — Emily Zanotti (@emzanotti) March 26, 2019

They have the two brothers ON TAPE buying the goods. They have a backdated check SIGNED FROM SMOLLETT to the two brothers. He repeatedly changed his story. Pretty sure we know what happened. https://t.co/tw27HiOF4W — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 26, 2019

He’s in media, but he’s no journalist. He actually tweeted out the thread reporting on the assistant state’s attorney admitting that they let Smollett off the hook despite the evidence against him:

The hackery … it’s just astonishing.

The media’s janitor is now doing double duty as Jussie Smollett’s janitor. https://t.co/XIE97kY4wf — Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) March 26, 2019

? ? ? Clean Up on Aisle Smollett ? ? ? The janitor is on it, folks. https://t.co/4fz9AQexmp — James Hasson (@JamesHasson20) March 26, 2019

The media’s janitor on duty. — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) March 26, 2019

Brian Stelter is Real News, Mr. President.

The most dishonest person on Twitter https://t.co/CKOlaB7zWy — Christian Toto (@HollywoodInToto) March 26, 2019

This is bad journalism all around. https://t.co/Hc0zIZbckF — Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) March 26, 2019

This … is CNN.

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional text and tweets.

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