Popularly known as Jamal in the World renowned Empire Series, Jussie Smollett is all ready to appear before the law court on his new charges. These include an accusation on the actor about lying to the Chicago police about being victimized on basis of racism and homophobic attack last year.
The great singer and actor has been scheduled to be brought before His Lordship LeRoy K. Martin Jr. inside the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse. The actor on his own recognizance could be released or held on bail.
Smollett, 37 is expected to at all cause plead not guilty to the six counts of felony disorderly conduct during the pending hearing.
Just in 2019, the Empire series actor was slapped with 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct for making false statements to the Chicago Police Department, just weeks before the Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office announced it was dismissing the case.
Retired appellate judge Sheila O’Brien later petitioned the court to appoint a special prosecutor to reopen the case and examine why charges against Smollett were dropped.
Special Prosecutor Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney who was appointed to examine the state’s attorney’s office’s handling of the case, is expected to attend the hearing.
Back in January 2019, Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home. He said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in “MAGA country,” a reference to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
Weeks later, police alleged that Smollett had paid two Nigerian brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo $3,500 to stage the attack.
If convicted in the new charges, Smollett could be jailed for three years, given mandatory community service and a $25,000 fine
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