WATCH: Don Lemon warns Trump and right wing will use Smollett scandal for their own agendas
Don Lemon, acknowledging how bad the scandal is for the actor, also is making clear that people who were looking for the case to collapse will begin to gloat
As the latest turn in the Jussie Smollett case sends the narrative spiraling, CNN host Don Lemon wants to make sure President Trump does not get to use the ongoing controversy as an excuse to spread divisive rhetoric.
According to USA Today, Wednesday, the CNN host addressed how Smollett’s story had turned political and given conservative cable-news outlets fuel for their agenda.
Indeed, Trump wasted little time before commenting after a Chicago police press conference announcing the charges against Smollett.
.@JussieSmollett – what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019
That bolstered Lemon’s argument that the scandal provided fodder, not only for skeptics, but for right-wingers who were waiting for the results of the police investigation.
“Sean Hannity is going to eat Jussie Smollett’s lunch every single second. Tucker Carlson is going to eat Smollett’s lunch every single second. The president of the United States is going to eat his lunch,” Lemon said during the broadcast.
READ MORE: Brothers at the center of Jussie Smollett hate crime investigation speak out
Legal analyst Midwin Charles agreed stating, “Well, the pushback on this needs to be that the framing cannot be that simply because of this one case, that all the other victims that come forward are somehow no longer believed. That’s really important.”
Smollett initially said he was the victim of a vicious hate crime. But after sources alleged that he staged the attack with the help of two Nigerian brothers, he has now been arrested by the Chicago Police Department, facing felony charges of filing a false police report.
For the sake of transparency, Lemon reminded viewers he had a 2015 cameo on “Empire” where he met Smollett, who he described as “a very nice guy.”
READ MORE: GMA staffers had ‘doubts’ during Jussie Smollett interview with Robin Roberts
CNN’s Don Lemon panics over Jussie Smollett's felony charge: “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” pic.twitter.com/aYCQE9Y50J
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 21, 2019
“I know him – not best friends, but I do know him,” Lemon added before assessing the potential damage done by this scandal.
“We shouldn’t forget innocent until proven guilty, of course, innocent until proven guilty,” he continued, “but like I said, a lot of this just doesn’t add up. If Jussie’s story isn’t true, he squandered the goodwill of a whole lot of people. He even lied to a lot of people – if it’s not true – including me, and that’s not cool.”
“He squandered the goodwill of very high-profile people who may one day be running this country like Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and people like President Trump,” Lemon said mentioning those who shared condolences after the alleged attack first made headlines.
“Like I said, there were questions about Jussie’s story from the very beginning, questions he still needs to answer. Innocent until proven guilty, but a whole lot of people want to hear from him. What happened Jussie?”
READ MORE: Chicago prosecutor recuses herself from Jussie Smollett case
"We shouldn't forget innocent until proven guilty," says CNN's @DonLemon. "But like I said, a lot of this doesn't add up. And if Jussie's story isn't true, he squandered the good will of a whole lot of people." https://t.co/98jPzkG4u1 pic.twitter.com/7yk8MUxpYI
— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) February 21, 2019
