The Illinois Appellate Court has upheld the disorderly conduct convictions of actor Jussie Smollett, known for his role in the TV show “Empire.”
The court’s decision comes after Smollett’s legal team challenged various aspects of his trial, including the appointment of a special prosecutor, jury selection, and the presentation of evidence. The appeal was largely unsuccessful, with the court ruling 2-1 against Smollett, the Associated Press reported.
The case dates back to 2019, when Smollett reported to Chicago police that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic assault by two masked men.
However, the investigation soon pivoted towards Smollett himself, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial. The authorities concluded that Smollett had orchestrated the attack, paying two acquaintances from his time on “Empire” to stage the incident.
In 2021, Smollett was found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct, a felony charge in Illinois for lying to the police. As a result of the upheld convictions, Smollett is now required to complete a 150-day jail sentence, of which he has already served six days during the appeal process.
The case has been a source of controversy and debate, with Smollett’s lawyers arguing that their client, who is Black and gay, was unfairly targeted by a racist justice system and political machinations. These claims, however, did not sway the majority of the appellate court.
Appellate Judge Freddrenna Lyle expressed a dissenting opinion, arguing for the overturning of Smollett’s convictions.
Judge Lyle highlighted the perceived injustice in appointing a special prosecutor and pursuing charges against Smollett after he had already completed community service in 2019. This was part of an earlier agreement with Cook County prosecutors to drop the initial charges.
Judge Lyle stated, “It was common sense that Smollett was bargaining for a complete resolution of the matter, not simply a temporary one,” expressing her view that the re-prosecution was fundamentally unfair.
Whether the re-prosecution was fair or not, Smollet absolutely fabricated the entire story, wasting the time and resources of the Chicago police department who have many pressing and real issues to address.
It is actually refreshing to see a Hollywood actor held accountable for their actions and compelled to complete their sentence.
