EXCERPT:
PIRRO: “Mr. Smollett, I want you to think long and hard for the next ten minutes of your life, as an African-American you were born with dark skin, you are also born a gay man. Sadly in our society both of those demographics have been marginalized by bigots and ignorant people. You serve were a member of both groups and I have no idea how that impacted your life. You have on the other hand a wonderful appearance and substantial acting skills. You have many supporters they say the crimes you have been charged with and convicted of could never have been perpetrated by you. But Mr. Smollett the evidence against you was not only substantial but it was overwhelming. Right now, right here I am giving you a choice, contrition is good for the soul. You tell the world right now these words. I’m sorry and I will treat you accordingly. You will be vilified for a month on social media but then he will be praised as someone who came clean and succumbed to the pressure of being in a world where publicity and victimization are important that you are a man who write to the wrong and apologized and asked for forgiveness and I, the public will forgive you. But if you decline and choose to continue this charade, I will sentence you commensurate to the pain you caused, the money that was wasted when police should’ve been investigating real crimes and the lives you have altered. Your choice sir, choose wisely.”