Updated: Jussie Smollett, the former star of “Empire” who ignited a firestorm in 2019 when he claimed to be the victim of a homophobic and racist assault, was convicted on Thursday of five counts of lying to the police about the incident. He was acquitted on a sixth charge.
Smollett faced six counts of “disorderly conduct,” a Class 4 felony in Illinois — a relatively minor offense. The charges carry a potential maximum sentence of three years in prison, but are more likely to result in a sentence of probation.
Dan Webb, the special prosecutor who tried the case, said the verdict was a “complete vindication” for the Chicago Police Department. He said that Smollett’s false report had harmed the city, and argued that Smollett had compounded his misconduct by lying on the witness stand. He said he would raise that point at sentencing.
“Defendants do not have the right to go...
Smollett faced six counts of “disorderly conduct,” a Class 4 felony in Illinois — a relatively minor offense. The charges carry a potential maximum sentence of three years in prison, but are more likely to result in a sentence of probation.
Dan Webb, the special prosecutor who tried the case, said the verdict was a “complete vindication” for the Chicago Police Department. He said that Smollett’s false report had harmed the city, and argued that Smollett had compounded his misconduct by lying on the witness stand. He said he would raise that point at sentencing.
“Defendants do not have the right to go...
- 12/9/2021
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Jussie Smollett, the former “Empire” star, took the stand in a Chicago courtroom on Monday and denied that he staged a hate crime against himself nearly three years ago, according to local reports.
Smollett, 39, walked the jury through his version of the events of Jan. 29, 2019, when he alleges he was attacked by two men who uttered homophobic and racist slurs, and put a rope around his neck. And he denied that he had paid two brothers, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, to stage the attack.
“There was no hoax,” Smollett told the jury, according to the Associated Press and reporters in the courtroom.
Smollett is facing six counts of “disorderly conduct,” a Class 4 felony in Illinois. He is accused of lying to the police about the incident, leading to a massive police investigation.
Several reporters tweeted live coverage of Smollett’s testimony from the courtroom, including Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau of the Chicago Tribune,...
Smollett, 39, walked the jury through his version of the events of Jan. 29, 2019, when he alleges he was attacked by two men who uttered homophobic and racist slurs, and put a rope around his neck. And he denied that he had paid two brothers, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, to stage the attack.
“There was no hoax,” Smollett told the jury, according to the Associated Press and reporters in the courtroom.
Smollett is facing six counts of “disorderly conduct,” a Class 4 felony in Illinois. He is accused of lying to the police about the incident, leading to a massive police investigation.
Several reporters tweeted live coverage of Smollett’s testimony from the courtroom, including Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau of the Chicago Tribune,...
- 12/7/2021
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
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