US actor Jussie Smollett has been released from prison in Chicago on bail pending an appeal against his conviction for falsely claiming he was a victim of a hate crime.
Last week the former Empire star, 39, was found guilty of lying to police and sentenced to 150 days in prison.
After his conviction, his lawyers appealed.
Smollett has always maintained that the hoax incident that took place in Chicago in 2019 was real.
- Jussie Smollett: From 2019 prank attack to jail time
He was required to sign a $150,000 (£114,000) acknowledgment statement before his release and made no comment as he exited Cook County Jail surrounded by security guards.
But his defense team said they were “very, very pleased” with the appellate judges’ decision, saying Smollett is the target of a racist justice system, reports CBS News.
His team argued that his incarceration – for what has been described as a low-level non-violent crime – was excessive and that his health and safety were at risk while he was in prison. They also questioned why he had been jailed after a previous prosecutor dropped the charges against him in 2019.
“Regardless of what you think of this case… the real question is, should black men be sent to prison for a Class 4 crime? quoted in The Chicago Tribune.
Prosecutors said claims his health and safety were at risk were false as he was in protective custody during his detention.
The verdict stems from an incident three years ago when Smollett said he was attacked by two assailants.
The actor, who is black and gay, said the attackers shouted insults and a Trump slogan, threw a “chemical” at him and tied a noose around his neck while he was out walking late at night in January 2019 .
Police launched an investigation into the incident but later accused Smollett of filing a false police report and saying he staged the attack.
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