State rep wants harsher penalties for false hate crime reports in wake of Smollet charges

Cover Image
Photo credit By Edgar Linares in Minneapolis

With actor Jussie Smollet now charged in Chicago with falsely reporting a hate crime, a Minnesota lawmaker is taking action closer to home. 

Elk River Representative Nick Zerwas (R) is currently drafting a bill that would change filing of a false hate crime from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor.  That would mean the sentence would go from 90 days in jail and possible $1,000 fine to a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Zerwas cited a recent case in Minnesota to explain why he thinks the change is necessary. 

“We’ve seen in Minnesota where college campuses have shut down for the day, and community meetings are held,” said Zerwas. “Minority students or individuals report that they’re nervous leaving their dorm rooms or walking across campus.”

Zerwas was referring to a spring 2017 incident where a racist type written note was tucked under a windshield wiper of a black student’s car at St Olaf College in Northfield. The note sparked outrage on campus, class cancelation and supportive rallies. Investigators later learned the note was fabricated.

RELATED: Empire actor Jussie Smollet arrested

Rep. Zerwas said filing false reports could traumatize a community and it waste the police’s time and resources.

"I think when you see these, especially well-publicized false reports, it could make an actual crime victim hesitant or nervous, that when they come forward they might be met with skepticism instead of support,” said Zerwas. “And if we have bad actors out there that are hurting people’s credibility and making them nervous about coming forward for these very difficult or sensitive crimes to report, we need to hold those people accountable.”