Rafer Weigel is a name synonymous with top-notch journalism in Chicago. As a three-time Emmy award-winning journalist and television anchor with Fox News Chicago, he has dedicated his career to delivering accurate and hard-hitting news to his audience. But it was in 2019 that Weigel became a household name across the country when he broke the Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax story. 

This story made headlines around the world and left many people questioning the motives behind the attack. And it was Rafer Weigel's dedication and persistence that led to uncovering the truth behind the story. Let's dive into the life and career of Rafer Weigel and how he became one of the most respected journalists in the industry.

Rafer Weigel was born on October 1, 1968, in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in broadcast journalism. He began his career at WMTV in Madison, Wisconsin, as a weekend anchor and reporter. After two years, he moved to WISN in Milwaukee, where he worked as a reporter and anchor for six years.

In 2002, Rafer Weigel joined Fox News Chicago as an anchor and reporter. Since then, he has covered many significant stories, including the 2008 presidential election and the Chicago Cubs' World Series win in 2016. He has also reported extensively on crime and justice issues in the city, earning a reputation as a journalist who will dig deep to uncover the truth.

But it was his work on the Jussie Smollett case that brought Rafer Weigel to the national spotlight. Smollett claimed that he was attacked by two men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs and placed a noose around his neck. The story quickly gained national attention, with politicians and celebrities expressing their support for Smollett. But Rafer Weigel was not convinced.

He began digging into the story and uncovered inconsistencies in Smollett's account of events. Weigel reported that two men had been arrested in connection with the attack, but they turned out to be acquaintances of Smollett. This led to suspicions that the attack may have been staged.

Weigel continued to investigate and report on the story, eventually revealing that Smollett had been indicted on charges of filing a false police report. The case became a national scandal, with many people questioning Smollett's motives and the media's handling of the story.

Rafer Weigel's reporting on the Jussie Smollett case earned him widespread praise and recognition, with many hailing him as a fearless and determined journalist, even throughout his revenge porn scandal. He was praised for his dogged determination to get to the truth and his commitment to holding those in power accountable.

In conclusion, Rafer Weigel's career is a testament to the power of journalism and the importance of holding those in power accountable. His work on the Jussie Smollett case was a shining example of what good journalism can achieve, and it will go down in history as one of the most important stories of our time. Weigel's commitment to truth and accuracy has won him many fans, and his dedication to journalism has made him one of the most respected journalists in the industry.