American actor Jussie Smollett has been convicted of falsely reporting a racist and homophobic assault. He himself maintains that he did not organize the attack, but according to the prosecutor, there is “irrefutable evidence” that Smollett lied to the Chicago police about this. A jury convicted him. He will hear his sentence later.
The actor had turned himself in to the police in January 2019, alleging that he was assaulted by two men who made racist and homophobic statements. He also said he was given a chemical. The police soon suspected that he had killed the men himself hired to harass him. Smollett himself was later identified as a suspect.
The two men Smollett accused of assault were brothers who allegedly received a $3,500 check for the assault. They put a noose around his neck and beat him in front of the security camera. According to the two brothers, he wanted to post the photos on social media.
The money was for the training table.
Smollett insisted in court that it was not him, but the brothers being liars. He admitted that he gave the men a check for $3,500, which he believed was for a meal plan and exercise.
The attorney general did not agree with the actor’s story, asserting that there was plenty of evidence that the attack was orchestrated by Smollett. He also confirmed that police investigations cost huge amounts of money and manpower.
“Besides being against the law, it is also clearly wrong to detract from something as serious as a hate crime, and then add symbols of such great historical significance,” plaintiff Dunn said. As a reminder of the history of racist lynchings, especially in southern states.
Career damage
A jury convicted Jussie Smollett on five of the six counts. He could face up to three years in prison, although experts believe he would be given a lighter sentence because he was never convicted.
While the penalty may be less, the damage to his career is greater. The cost of the case Smollett Course in the chain of strikes empire He has already indicated in court that he is currently financially unable to support himself.
Smollett’s lawyer says he will appeal the ruling.
