East Central Reporter

In some ways, GOP state Rep. Chris Miller is hoping to see the criminal justice system make an example out of Jussie Smollett.

“Right now, they’re making a mockery out of the system,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “One of the reasons human behavior is getting worse is there are no consequences. If people think that they can misbehave and break the law without consequence, the result is going to be unrest and a lack of any kind of civility in our society.”

With all that in mind, Miller is among the group of lawmakers arguing that Smollett deserves jail time when he is sentenced for filing the five fake hate crimes he was recently found guilty of by a Chicago jury. In rendering its verdict in the year-old case, the jury deliberated for just a few hours before returning, in a case that attracted widespread attention and commentary due to its racial tones.

Smollett, who is Black and gay, told police his attackers placed a noose around his neck and yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him.

Throughout the trial brothers Abimbol and Olabinjo Osundairo testified that Smollett recruited them to stage the attack near his downtown Chicago home, and the actor wanted to draw publicity.

Miller argues Democratic leaders such as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi all spoke out in support of him too soon and before the facts were known.

“The lack of leadership provided by Democrats has led to cities being burned down across the country as they’ve turned a blind eye to it and done nothing to stand up to the bad behavior,” he added. "This all lies at the feet of people like Lightfoot, Pelosi and Gov. Pritzker.”

With 2021 already on the books as one of the most violent years in the city history, Miller isn't alone in questioning whether lawmakers like Lightfoot are doing enough to help keep communities safe.

By early December, over 1,000 homicides had already been committed in Cook County and by the end of November, 927 of the 1,009 homicides documented by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office were gun-related crimes.

The violence hasn’t just been restricted to the Chicago's inner-city neighborhoods, with a 12-year-old girl recently shot in the back near North Michigan Avenue on a night that large groups of teens gathered in the area, NBC7 Chicago reported. The shooting was one of several violent acts that occurred in the area. In another incident, a CTA bus driver was assaulted on the 100 block of North Michigan Avenue after he got out to investigate a loud noise. Two minors punched him in the head and body.

That night, 21 minors were arrested, which also saw two Chicago police officers being injured and two replica firearms recovered.

Again, Miller argues a lack of leadership has played a crucial role in all upheaval.

“I think the biggest thing is they aren’t doing anything other than making excuses, denying and deferring, like it’s not a problem,” he said of Democrats in charge. “They need to grow a spine, and law and order needs to return to our streets. Until that happens, bad behavior is not going to change.”