My take on Smollett:
When it first happened there were too many pics of him and Barry and Michael looking extremely chummy. Laughing, smiling…he was in their circle.
I always thought he was out up to the scam by them to make the MAGA hat thing a "thing."
As another Anon suggested, he has flipped to save himself. He gave up the info on his handlers.
Handlers? Barry, Michael, et. al.
Am I correct, Q?