Jussie Smollett is scheduled to be convicted on Thursday for his role in lying to police about an alleged hate crime in 2019. Smollett, best known for his role on Empire TV, was condemned in December five charges of lying to police about the attack, but he has maintained throughout his extensive legal battles that it was real.
Smollett faces up to three years in prison for each of the five crimes.
The sentence will temporarily put an end to Smollett’s battle over the attack, which thwarted the Chicago Police Department and caused Smollett to be fired from “Empire” at the height of the show’s popularity.
On January 29, 2019, the black and gay actor told Chicago police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. He claimed that two men followed him down a street late at night, shouting insults before throwing an “unknown chemical” at him and placing a noose around his neck.
But police and prosecutors alleged that Smollett paid brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo $ 3,500 to stage the attack. The brothers testified that Smollett asked them to carry out a false attack.
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How to see Jussie Smollett’s sentence today
- What: Jussie Smollett’s sentence
- Date: Thursday, March 10, 2022
- Time: 13:00 local time; 2 pm ET
- Online broadcast: Live on CBS News Chicago on the video player above and on your mobile or streaming device.
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