Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Jussie Smollett Conviction

“I stand by my findings and rulings. I do believe that at the end of the day that Mr. Smollett received a fair trial,” the judge said.

QUICK FACTS:
  • A motion to dismiss the conviction of actor Jussie Smollett for lying to Chicago police about a racist and homophobic attack he staged himself was denied Thursday, The Associated Press reports.
  • Cook County Judge James Linn’s ruling upheld the jury’s verdict from December that found Smollett, who is Black and gay, guilty of five felony counts of disorderly conduct, only acquitted on a sixth count.
  • “I stand by my findings and rulings. I do believe that at the end of the day that Mr. Smollett received a fair trial,” Linn said.
  • After the ruling, a sentencing hearing began for Smollett, who faces time behind bars or probation.
WHAT SMOLLETT LIED ABOUT:
  • The actor, who is Black and gay, told Chicago police that on a frigid night in January 2019 two unknown men attacked him, yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him, poured bleach on him and wrapped a noose around his neck, CNN explains.
BACKGROUND:
  • The verdict came after a trial in which prosecutors presented evidence that Smollett planned the attack, hired and paid two men he knew from his work on the show “Empire” to carry it out and bought them supplies they would need, AP notes.
  • After police determined his reports were false, Smollett was indicted in March 2019 on 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct.

LATEST VIDEO