On Tuesday, an Illinois court granted an appeal of the sentence of former Empire star Jussie Smollett, who staged a hate crime against himself in 2019. Smollet was sentenced to 150 days by Judge James Linn after being convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct.
Smollet’s alleged attack made headlines in early 2019, reporting to Chicago police that two hooded men physically attacked him while yelling racial and homophobic slurs. Smollett is black and identifies as a gay man.
Brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who played extras on Empire, claim Smollett paid them $4,000 to play the role of white supremacists who viciously attack him.
Smollett was initially charged with 16 felony charges of orchestrating a hate crime, which were dropped in 2020. A new indictment and trial began in 2021, where jurors found the actor guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct. “You took away a lot of resources from other places, from other real victims of real crimes,...
Smollet’s alleged attack made headlines in early 2019, reporting to Chicago police that two hooded men physically attacked him while yelling racial and homophobic slurs. Smollett is black and identifies as a gay man.
Brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who played extras on Empire, claim Smollett paid them $4,000 to play the role of white supremacists who viciously attack him.
Smollett was initially charged with 16 felony charges of orchestrating a hate crime, which were dropped in 2020. A new indictment and trial began in 2021, where jurors found the actor guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct. “You took away a lot of resources from other places, from other real victims of real crimes,...
- 9/13/2023
- by Chazzel Ferbol
- Uinterview
Update, 5:05 Pm: Jussie Smollett has yet to be sentenced for being found guilty today of faking a hate crime attack on himself nearly three years ago, but the Empire actor isn’t over fighting this case.
“The verdict is inconsistent,” defense lawyer Nenye Uche said this evening in the lobby of the Leighton Criminal Courthouse after a jury found Smollett guilty of five of six felony charges on Thursday. “You can’t say Jussie is lying and say Jussie is not lying for the same exact incidents,” the attorney proclaimed.
“We feel 100% confident that this case will be won on appeal. Unfortunately, that’s not a route we wanted, but sometimes that’s the route you have to take to win.”
Adding to the legal debris, Smollett still faces a civil suit from the City of Chicago over the resources spent on the Code Blue police probe into the alleged hate crime.
“The verdict is inconsistent,” defense lawyer Nenye Uche said this evening in the lobby of the Leighton Criminal Courthouse after a jury found Smollett guilty of five of six felony charges on Thursday. “You can’t say Jussie is lying and say Jussie is not lying for the same exact incidents,” the attorney proclaimed.
“We feel 100% confident that this case will be won on appeal. Unfortunately, that’s not a route we wanted, but sometimes that’s the route you have to take to win.”
Adding to the legal debris, Smollett still faces a civil suit from the City of Chicago over the resources spent on the Code Blue police probe into the alleged hate crime.
- 12/10/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
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
Update, 2:26 Pm: The jury in the Jussie Smollett trial have reached a verdict.
The six men and six woman are expected to reveal their decision in Cook County Judge James Linn’s courtroom within the next half hour.
Previously, Dec 8 Pm: Although prosecutors said there was “overwhelming” evidence that Jussie Smollett staged an assault on himself in late January 2019, there will be no verdict Wednesday in the ex-Empire star’s criminal trial.
After just more than two hours of initial deliberation today on the six felony charges Smollett is facing in a chilly Chicago, the six-man and six-woman tribunal jury packed it in for the day at around 5 p.m. local time. Even though it has been fairly long days for the weeklong trial in Cook County Judge James Linn’s courtroom, proceedings were permitted to end a little earlier because one juror had a concert to attend with their child.
The six men and six woman are expected to reveal their decision in Cook County Judge James Linn’s courtroom within the next half hour.
Previously, Dec 8 Pm: Although prosecutors said there was “overwhelming” evidence that Jussie Smollett staged an assault on himself in late January 2019, there will be no verdict Wednesday in the ex-Empire star’s criminal trial.
After just more than two hours of initial deliberation today on the six felony charges Smollett is facing in a chilly Chicago, the six-man and six-woman tribunal jury packed it in for the day at around 5 p.m. local time. Even though it has been fairly long days for the weeklong trial in Cook County Judge James Linn’s courtroom, proceedings were permitted to end a little earlier because one juror had a concert to attend with their child.
- 12/9/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Jussie Smollett told a Chicago courtroom today that he was not only a victim of an attack on the streets of Chicago nearly three years ago, but a potential shakedown too.
On the stand for the second day in the nearly weeklong trial, the ex-Empire actor reignited a $2 million bombshell accusation against Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo.
The brothers are the prosecution’s primary witnesses that the January 29, 2019, attack on Smollett wasn’t a hate crime but a set-up by the star himself. Right near the end of his long stint on the stand and continuing to insist on his innocence, Smollett declared the brothers sought $1 million each to “go away” and tell authorities that the assault wasn’t faked.
Held by Chicago Police investigators for nearly two days back in early 2019, in the final hour before they were to be released or charged, the brothers broke down and told the...
On the stand for the second day in the nearly weeklong trial, the ex-Empire actor reignited a $2 million bombshell accusation against Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo.
The brothers are the prosecution’s primary witnesses that the January 29, 2019, attack on Smollett wasn’t a hate crime but a set-up by the star himself. Right near the end of his long stint on the stand and continuing to insist on his innocence, Smollett declared the brothers sought $1 million each to “go away” and tell authorities that the assault wasn’t faked.
Held by Chicago Police investigators for nearly two days back in early 2019, in the final hour before they were to be released or charged, the brothers broke down and told the...
- 12/7/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Jussie Smollett insisted to a Chicago courtroom Monday that the violent attack against him in early 2019 “was no hoax.”
On the stand in his own defense, the ex-Empire star called the assault by men hurling punches and homophobic and racial slurs and shouting “Maga country” to be “something out of Looney Tune adventures.”
Asked directly by special prosecutor Daniel Webb in cross-examination if he wanted the police to treat his attack as a “hate crime,” Smollett replied that he “wanted police to solve a crime that had happened to me.”
Holding to his story under one-time Iran-Contra lawyer Webb’s sometimes intense questioning, Smollett said it was “fully false, 100 percent false” that he planned or paid anyone to stage an attack on him.
Facing half a dozen felony charges spiraling out of the alleged hate crime that soon afterward was characterized by Chicago police, politicians and prosecutors as probably a PR stunt,...
On the stand in his own defense, the ex-Empire star called the assault by men hurling punches and homophobic and racial slurs and shouting “Maga country” to be “something out of Looney Tune adventures.”
Asked directly by special prosecutor Daniel Webb in cross-examination if he wanted the police to treat his attack as a “hate crime,” Smollett replied that he “wanted police to solve a crime that had happened to me.”
Holding to his story under one-time Iran-Contra lawyer Webb’s sometimes intense questioning, Smollett said it was “fully false, 100 percent false” that he planned or paid anyone to stage an attack on him.
Facing half a dozen felony charges spiraling out of the alleged hate crime that soon afterward was characterized by Chicago police, politicians and prosecutors as probably a PR stunt,...
- 12/7/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The state rested its case at Jussie Smollett’s trial Thursday after key testimony from two brothers who said the former Empire actor plotted a racist and anti-gay attack on himself in downtown Chicago and paid them to carry it out.
After a three-day presentation of evidence, special prosecutor Dan Webb told the presiding judge Thursday evening that the prosecution was done. The defense began its case immediately, calling, among others, an emergency room physician who saw Smollett after the purported attack.
Judge James Linn told jurors there would be no testimony Friday, saying he expected they would begin deliberations no ...
After a three-day presentation of evidence, special prosecutor Dan Webb told the presiding judge Thursday evening that the prosecution was done. The defense began its case immediately, calling, among others, an emergency room physician who saw Smollett after the purported attack.
Judge James Linn told jurors there would be no testimony Friday, saying he expected they would begin deliberations no ...
- 12/3/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The state rested its case at Jussie Smollett’s trial Thursday after key testimony from two brothers who said the former Empire actor plotted a racist and anti-gay attack on himself in downtown Chicago and paid them to carry it out.
After a three-day presentation of evidence, special prosecutor Dan Webb told the presiding judge Thursday evening that the prosecution was done. The defense began its case immediately, calling, among others, an emergency room physician who saw Smollett after the purported attack.
Judge James Linn told jurors there would be no testimony Friday, saying he expected they would begin deliberations no ...
After a three-day presentation of evidence, special prosecutor Dan Webb told the presiding judge Thursday evening that the prosecution was done. The defense began its case immediately, calling, among others, an emergency room physician who saw Smollett after the purported attack.
Judge James Linn told jurors there would be no testimony Friday, saying he expected they would begin deliberations no ...
- 12/3/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The opening day of former Empire star Jussie Smollett’s felony trial in Chicago was long and painted two very different portraits of what actually went down in January 2019.
Citing a “tremendous rush to judgment” over the seeming unraveling of Smollett’s version of the early winter morning racial and politically motivated attack on the Windy City streets, defense attorney Nenye Uche declared in his opening statement that “Jussie Smollett is a real victim.”
That remark in front of a freshly selected and seated jury in Judge James Linn’s Cook County courtroom came on a nearly 11-hour day in what is expected to be a weeklong trial.
Facing half a dozen disorderly conduct counts, Smollett could be heading behind bars for up to three years if found guilty. Yet, even in a case that has seen pretzel like twists, dismissal of the original charges, a slap on the wrist,...
Citing a “tremendous rush to judgment” over the seeming unraveling of Smollett’s version of the early winter morning racial and politically motivated attack on the Windy City streets, defense attorney Nenye Uche declared in his opening statement that “Jussie Smollett is a real victim.”
That remark in front of a freshly selected and seated jury in Judge James Linn’s Cook County courtroom came on a nearly 11-hour day in what is expected to be a weeklong trial.
Facing half a dozen disorderly conduct counts, Smollett could be heading behind bars for up to three years if found guilty. Yet, even in a case that has seen pretzel like twists, dismissal of the original charges, a slap on the wrist,...
- 11/30/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Jury selection is underway in a Chicago courtroom in the case of Jussie Smollett, who is accused of faking a hate crime against himself nearly three years ago.
Smollett, onetime star of “Empire,” faces six counts of “disorderly conduct” for allegedly filing a false police report about the attack. Smollett, who is Black and gay, has maintained that he was assaulted on Jan. 29, 2019, by two men who yelled homophobic and racist slurs, put a rope around his neck and yelled “This is Maga country.”
Jurors are expected to hear from two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, who have said that Smollett paid them $3,500 to carry out the attack. Smollett has denied that.
The trial is expected to last about a week. According to pool reporters in the courtroom, Judge James Linn said he expected to complete jury selection on Monday, and perhaps get into opening statements and begin some testimony...
Smollett, onetime star of “Empire,” faces six counts of “disorderly conduct” for allegedly filing a false police report about the attack. Smollett, who is Black and gay, has maintained that he was assaulted on Jan. 29, 2019, by two men who yelled homophobic and racist slurs, put a rope around his neck and yelled “This is Maga country.”
Jurors are expected to hear from two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, who have said that Smollett paid them $3,500 to carry out the attack. Smollett has denied that.
The trial is expected to last about a week. According to pool reporters in the courtroom, Judge James Linn said he expected to complete jury selection on Monday, and perhaps get into opening statements and begin some testimony...
- 11/29/2021
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Jussie Smollett, the former Empire actor embroiled in a false claim that he was attacked in Chicago and subjected to racist and anti-gay slurs, now will face criminal charges of lying to police.
A judge on Friday denied a bid to dismiss the criminal case against Smollett.
An attorney for Smollett claimed the actor’s rights were being violated since he has already performed community service and given up a $10,000 bond under a previous deal with Cook County prosecutors to drop charges.
“A deal is a deal. That’s ancient principle,” attorney Nenye Uche said.
Judge James Linn disagreed, and noted that the Smollett case is now being led by a special prosecutor appointed by another judge.
Linn said jury selection in Smollett’s trial would start Nov. 29.
Smollett told police in January 2019 that two masked men attacked him when he was in Chicago. He was charged weeks later with...
A judge on Friday denied a bid to dismiss the criminal case against Smollett.
An attorney for Smollett claimed the actor’s rights were being violated since he has already performed community service and given up a $10,000 bond under a previous deal with Cook County prosecutors to drop charges.
“A deal is a deal. That’s ancient principle,” attorney Nenye Uche said.
Judge James Linn disagreed, and noted that the Smollett case is now being led by a special prosecutor appointed by another judge.
Linn said jury selection in Smollett’s trial would start Nov. 29.
Smollett told police in January 2019 that two masked men attacked him when he was in Chicago. He was charged weeks later with...
- 10/16/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
After appearing in court for an arraignment on new charges on Monday, former Empire actor Jussie Smollett has pleaded not guilty to six counts of disorderly conduct, the Chicago Tribune reports.
In January 2019, Smollett claimed he was victim of a hate crime attack in Chicago, where he was living while filming Empire. The actor — who came out in 2015 — filed a police report, claiming the attackers had shouted racist and homophobic comments as they poured an unknown chemical substance over him and wrapped a rope around his neck. The attackers fled,...
In January 2019, Smollett claimed he was victim of a hate crime attack in Chicago, where he was living while filming Empire. The actor — who came out in 2015 — filed a police report, claiming the attackers had shouted racist and homophobic comments as they poured an unknown chemical substance over him and wrapped a rope around his neck. The attackers fled,...
- 2/24/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
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