Share this @internewscast.com

Actor Jussie Smollett’s Chicago trial on charges that he faked a hate crime attack on himself three years ago begins Monday with jury selection.

Smollett, 39, was a star of the television show “Empire” when he claimed he was attacked on January 29, 2019, by two men who hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him and left a noose around his neck.

Two brothers who worked as extras on “Empire” later came forward and said Smollett had paid them to “attack” him, and prosecutors charged the actor. But in March, Cook County Prosecutor Kim Foxx dropped all the charges against him in return for community service and forfeiture of his bond, as CrimeOnline previously reported.

An outcry against that action prompted the appointment of a special prosecutor, who indicted Smollett on six disorderly conduct charges related to the incident but did not find that Foxx or her office acted in a criminal manner. Former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb’s full report was sealed and has not been released.

The charges against Smollett, whose character was written out of “Empire” after the incident, are misdemeanors carrying a maximum sentence of three years, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

According to the Tribune, prosecutors said that Smollett staged the attack because he was unhappy with how the television studio handled a purportedly racist letter containing a white powder that the actor received — only for officials to say that Smollett mailed that letter to himself because he wanted a raise.

Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, the brothers who allegedly staged the attack, are expected to be key witnesses against Smollett during the trial.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast

[Featured image: FILE Actor Jussie Smollet in court in 2019 in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)]

Source: This post first appeared on

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Police Report: Man Faces Charges After Allegedly Pushing Woman into River, Resulting in Her Death

Inset: William Youmans Jr. (Miami-Dade Corrections). Background: Miami River where Youmans is…
Share copy link Kaylee Goncalves (bottom left) and Madison Mogen (top left),…

Katlyn Harp: Discovery of Missing Woman’s Body on Ex-Husband’s Previous Property

The spouse of a missing woman from Pennsylvania has been accused of…

Shooting Suspect at Forest View Apartments Receives 120-Day Jail Term and 3-Year Probation

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jamie Lamarr Ball, 49, who faced arrest…

Sydney Teacher’s Disturbing Effort to Shift Blame onto Students

A paedophilic primary school teacher has shown no remorse for robbing eight…

Clarence Thomas’ Opinion on Teacher Dismissed for TikTok Videos

Justice Clarence Thomas is shown during a group photo of the Justices…

Suspected Student Quadruple Murderer Accepts Plea Agreement

Bryan Kohberger, the 30-year-old accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho…

Suspected Assassin Complains of Sleepless Nights in Jail

Inset: Vance Boelter (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Security footage is said…

Police: Woman Discovered Hidden in Box Inside Husband’s Truck

Background: News coverage at the location in Montour Township, Pa., where Katlyn…

“Officials Report Idaho Sniper’s Surprise Attack: Two Firefighters Killed, One Injured”

In northern Idaho’s rugged landscape, two firefighters lost their lives and another…

Barry Morphew Sent Back to Colorado to Face Trial for Wife’s Murder

Barry Morphew has been returned to Colorado to face trial for the…

Young Man Found Dead Just Hours After Being Seen Alive

A young man was murdered within hours of his last sighting, documents…