JUSSIE SMOLLETT

With a defendant so obviously mentally disturbed, who cares what his ideological views are, other than that he planned to kill Nancy Pelosi?

The media has a long history of peddling racially-charged falsehoods from accusing Covington teen Nick Sandmann of racism to the "noose" allegedly found in Bubba Wallace's garage.

Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Cook County Jail Wednesday, March 16, 2022, after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be released pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago. He didn't speak to reporters as he was escorted out of the Cook County Jail surrounded by security, and his attorneys wouldn't say where the 39-year-old may be heading or what he plans to do next. Smollett told Chicago police in January 2019 that he had been attacked by two men as he walked near his home around 2 a.m. Outside the jail on Wednesday night, Smollett's defense attorneys said having to face charges a second time went against his constitutional rights. ___Check out the AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

The timing of Chris Cuomo's high dive into the mud bog is sad. After all, there is a war on. I mean a real war, not the one inside CNN's C-suite.

Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Cook County Jail Wednesday, March 16, 2022, after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be released pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago. He didn't speak to reporters as as he was escorted out of the Cook County Jail surrounded by security, and his attorneys wouldn't say where the 39-year-old may be heading or what he plans to do next. Under the conditions of the sentence imposed by Cook County Judge James Linn, Smollett must now serve the 30-month probation, though he may leave the state and travel without restrictions. Smollett told Chicago police in January 2019 that he had been attacked by two men as he walked near his home around 2 a.m. Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct, but Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx later dropped the case.

Jussie Smollett walked out of a Chicago jail after serving six days and walked into months, if not years, of uncertainty — from what’s next for his career to whether he’ll eventually be back behind bars.

Jussie Smollett walked out of a Chicago jail after serving six days and walked into months, if not years, of uncertainty — from what's next for his career as an actor and performer to whether he'll eventually be back behind bars. The former star of the TV show “Empire" was sentenced last week to 150 days in jail plus probation and a fine after a jury found him guilty of lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago in 2019. Smollett, who is Black and gay, has maintained his innocence.

The appeals court ruling came after a judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail.

The appeals court ruling came after a judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail.

On Wednesday, an appellate court ordered that actor Jussie Smollett should be released from jail while he prepares an appeal.

Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Cook County Jail Wednesday, March 16, 2022, after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be released pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago. The former “Empire” actor walked out of the Cook County Jail on Wednesday surrounded by security. Smollett defense attorney Nenye Uche, speaking to reporters outside the jail after Smollett left, said the Smollett family is “very very happy with today’s developments.” Uche said during his time at the jail, Smollett had not eaten and drank only water, though he did not say why. He criticized the special prosecutor’s decision to charge Smollett again after the initial charges were dropped by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and he paid a fine. ___Check out The AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Jussie Smollett has been released from jail in Chicago after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be free pending the appeal of the Black and gay actor's conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.

Jussie Smollett was released from jail Wednesday after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be free pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack. (March 16)

Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett is led out of the courtroom after being sentenced at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. Smollett walked out of the Cook County Jail Wednesday evening. Jussie Smollett was ordered released from jail Wednesday by an appeals court that agreed with his lawyers that he should be free pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to Chicago police about a racist and homophobic attack. Judge James Linn sentenced Smollett last week to 150 days in jail, but with good behavior he could have been released in as little as 75 days. ___Check out The AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett is led out of the courtroom after being sentenced at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. The decision came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. One of the men, Smollett said, put a noose around his neck. Judge James Linn sentenced Smollett last week to 150 days in jail, but with good behavior he could have been released in as little as 75 days. ___Check out The AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Jussie Smollett was ordered released from jail Wednesday by an appeals court.

Jussie Smollett case: Court orders actor's release from jail amid appeal Actor Jussie Smollett speaks to Judge James Linn after his sentence is read at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)CHICAGO — A court has ordered that former “Empire” star Jussie Smollett be released from jail on bond during an appeal of his conviction for lying to police, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. An appeals court has ordered that Jussie Smollett be released from jail while he appeals his conviction on charges that he lied to police about a racist and homophobic attack. >> PREVIOUS REPORT: Jussie Smollett: ‘Empire’ actor sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probationAlthough Smollett, 39, had been ordered to begin serving his jail time immediately, an appeals court ruled Wednesday that he could be released after posting $150,000 bond, according to the news agency. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Photos: Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail Actor Jussie Smollett is led out of the courtroom after being sentenced at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago.

Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett is led out of the courtroom after being sentenced at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. Jussie Smollett maintained his innocence during his sentencing hearing Thursday after a judge sentenced the former “Empire” actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. The ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. Judge James Linn sentenced Smollett last week to 150 days in jail, but with good behavior he could have been released in as little as 75 days. ___Check out The AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Smollett was sentenced last week to 30 months felony probation, including 150 days in jail.

Former prime time anchor Chris Cuomo on Wednesday asked an arbitrator to award him $125 million for what he called his “unlawful” firing.

Jussie Smollett's attorneys say they're planning to appeal nearly everything that went on in court over the last few months — from the actor's December conviction of lying to police to the 150-day sentence a judge imposed last week. Now, the issue of whether Smollett must sit in jail during these planned appeals is before a state appeals court and while the appeals could take months to resolve, the question of whether Smollett remains locked up will be resolved much quicker. The way Smollett's attorneys see it, such an order is justified because it's almost certain that Smollett would complete his 150-day jail sentence — which could shrink to 75 days if he behaves himself in jail — before the appeals on the conviction and sentence are decided.

Lawyers for Jussie Smollet are asking a judge for a stay regarding his 150-day sentence and/or to grant the actor bail pending the status of his court appeal.

Actor Jussie Smollett was reportedly moved to a psychiatric ward after being jailed for staging a hate crime, his brother said in an Instagram video posted this past weekend. >> Read more trending newsJocqui Smollett said his brother was moved from the regular population at the Cook County Jail in Illinois to the psychiatric ward because jail officials said they were concerned about his mental health. After Smollett heard the verdict, he told Cook County Judge James Linn that he was “Not suicidal. Smollett told Judge Linn that he respected him and the jury, “but I did not do this.”In Jocqui Smollett’s Instagram post, he said his brother had been moved to another part of the jail. “Jussie is currently in a psych ward at Cook County Jail.

Jail officials moved former “Empire” star Jussie Smollett to a psychiatric ward after deeming him a risk of self-harm, according to an outraged brother of the actor. Two days after Jussie was sentenced to five months at Cook County Jail in Chicago for lying to police about a made-up homophobic and racist attack, the actor’s sibling Jocqui Smollett slammed his placement in a psych ward as “a ...

APTOPIX Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett speaks to Judge James Linn after his sentence is read at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. Smollett maintained his innocence during his sentencing hearing Thursday after a judge sentenced the former “Empire” actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. Smollett didn't make a statement when offered the opportunity before the judge announced the sentence, saying he was listening to his attorneys' advice. But after Cook County Judge James Linn issued his decision, Smollett removed the face mask he wore throughout the hearing to proclaim himself innocent. “I ask you, judge, not to send him to prison,” his grandmother, 92-year-old Molly Smollett, told the court.

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Jussie Smollett’s new mugshot has been released. The former “Empire” star was sentenced Thursday to 150 days in jail and 30 months’ probation for falsely reporting to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in 2019. He was also ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago and a $25,000 fine. Smollett was found guilty in December of five counts of felony ...

The former "Empire" star, 39, was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of felony probation and was ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago.

APTOPIX Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett speaks to Judge James Linn after his sentence is read at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. Smollett maintained his innocence during his sentencing hearing Thursday after a judge sentenced the former “Empire” actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. Smollett didn't make a statement when offered the opportunity before the judge announced the sentence, saying he was listening to his attorneys' advice. But after Cook County Judge James Linn issued his decision, Smollett removed the face mask he wore throughout the hearing to proclaim himself innocent. “I ask you, judge, not to send him to prison,” his grandmother, 92-year-old Molly Smollett, told the court.

Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police in a racist and homophobic attack that he staged himself.

Jail officials say Jussie Smollett began a 150-day jail sentence for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he staged himself in protective custody.

Jussie Smollett Actor Jussie Smollett appears with his attorneys at his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool) (Brian Cassella)CHICAGO — (AP) — Jussie Smollett loudly maintained his innocence Thursday after a judge sentenced the former "Empire" actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. Cook County Judge James Linn ordered that Smollett's county jail sentence begin immediately following the hearing. “I ask you, judge, not to send him to prison,” his grandmother, 92-year-old Molly Smollett, told the court. ___Check out the AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Former 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett was sentenced Thursday to 150 days in jail and 30 months of probation for lying about a racist and homophobic attack.

After the ruling a sentencing hearing began for Smollett, who faces time behind bars or probation.

A judge sentenced him to jail and ordered him to pay a fine for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself.

Jussie Smollett FILE - Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Monday Feb. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Marton File) (Matt Marton)CHICAGO — (AP) — 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. 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. Smollett could also tell the judge as he told jurors about his extensive history of volunteering and donating to charitable causes. ___Check out the AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

The former Empire actor was convicted on five felony counts of lying to police, but he has maintained that he did not stage the 2019 attack in which he claimed to be the victim.

Jussie Smollett to be sentenced Jussie Smollett arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court Building for his trial on disorderly conduct charges on December 7 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. - Smollett on December 6 denied fabricating a hate crime against himself during his trial in Chicago, a case that sparked a wave of national outrage. >> Read more trending newsSmollett, who was one of the stars of the TV show “Empire,” was found guilty in December 2021 on five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. Smollett was acquitted on a sixth count of lying to a detective. Smollett is also facing a lawsuit brought by the city of Chicago after the actor declined to pay the city $130,106.15 for the police investigation, court documents show.

Jussie Smollett FILE - Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Monday Feb. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Marton File) (Matt Marton)CHICAGO — (AP) — Actor Jussie Smollett is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, where he will learn if a judge will order him locked up for his conviction of lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself or allow him to remain free. But because Smollett does not have an extensive criminal history and the conviction is for a low-level nonviolent crime, experts do not expect that he will be sent to prison. Smollett could tell the judge as he told jurors about his extensive history of volunteering and donating to charitable causes. ___Check out the AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Jussie Smollett FILE - Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Monday Feb. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Marton File) (Matt Marton)CHICAGO — (AP) — Actor Jussie Smollett is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, where he will learn if a judge will order him locked up for his conviction of lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself or allow him to remain free. But because Smollett does not have an extensive criminal history and the conviction is for a low-level nonviolent crime, experts do not expect that he will be sent to prison. Smollett could tell the judge as he told jurors about his extensive history of volunteering and donating to charitable causes. ___Check out the AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

It follows a trial in December that concluded with a jury convicting Smollett on five counts of disorderly conduct. Initial charges brought in February 2019 that accused the former “Empire” actor of faking the assault were soon after tossed. Here’s a look at the charges Cook County jurors considered:WHAT WERE THE CHARGES AGAINST SMOLLETT? He faced six counts of disorderly conduct under a subsection of the law that prohibits false reports to police. Disorderly conduct charges for filing a false police report aren’t uncommon and are sometimes tied to insurance fraud.

The legal saga surrounding Jussie Smollett’s claim in 2019 that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago culminated Thursday in his sentencing to 150 days in jail and being ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago.

A judge sentenced Jussie Smollett to 150 days in jail Thursday, branding the Black and gay actor a narcissistic charlatan for staging a hate crime against himself to grab the limelight while the nation struggled with wrenching issues of racial injustice. Smollett responded by defiantly maintaining his innocence and suggesting he could be killed in jail. The sentence and Smollett’s post-hearing outburst capped an hourslong hearing and more than three years of legal drama following Smollett's claim that he had been the target of a racist and homophobic attack.

Jussie Smollett FILE - Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Monday Feb. 24, 2020. Smollett was convicted of five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct — for lying to police. Prosecutors showed Smollett, who is Black and gay, went to extraordinary lengths in January 2019 to stage a hate crime. A key question is whether Special Prosecutor Dan Webb will ask Linn to sentence Smollett to jail or prison. Smollett could admit he staged the attack and then lied repeatedly about it — including on the witness stand under oath.

Jussie Smollett is returning to a Chicago courtroom for sentencing with just two questions hanging over his head: Will he admit that he lied about a racist homophobic attack and will a judge send him to jail.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was one of the more high-profile targets of political violence when prosecutors say a group of men who were angry about pandemic restrictions plotted to kidnap her.

Jussie Smollett Sentencing FILE - Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse with unidentified siblings, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Chicago, following a verdict in his trial. Smollett was found guilty by a jury Dec. 9 of five felony counts of disorderly conduct under a subsection of the law that prohibits making false reports to police. They include a lawsuit the city of Chicago filed against Smollett to recoup over $130,000 it spent investigating what police initially believed was a terrible hate crime. The report made headlines around the world and prompted a massive manhunt in Chicago, with roughly two dozen police joining the investigation. ___Check out the AP's complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Jussie Smollett, who was convicted last month for lying to police about a racist, homophobic attack that authorities said he staged, will return to court for sentencing March 10.

I didn’t vote for a Sunday school teacher for president; I voted for a businessman, not another empty-promising career politician like we have now now

Trials Explainer Defendants Testifying FILE - Kyle Rittenhouse testifies during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 10, 2021. ARE MORE DEFENDANTS TESTIFYING? AT WHAT OTHER RECENT TRIALS HAVE DEFENDANTS TESTIFED? The biggest risk is that, by testifying, defendants open themselves up to a potentially devastating cross-examination. During cross at his trial, Rittenhouse made no obvious blunders.

Defendants spoke directly to jurors in a series of recent high-profile trials, defying conventional wisdom that the risks of a client taking the stand usually outweigh the benefits.

Be the family that laughs, cries, and watches together with these kid-friendly flicks on Netflix.

Two people are dead, and at least seven others were wounded, including a 14-year-old boy who flagged down police and said him and his brother were just shot on Doty Avenue where officers found his sibling shot in the neck and lying in the street.

The record date for the latest measurable snow in Chicago is Dec. 20, 2012.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still churning, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White gave residents another extension to renew their drivers licenses and state identification cards.

The injured firefighter was transported in an ambulance to Loyola University Medical Center where he was doing "OK," Hanania said he was told.

"As an African American person, I'm not putting that noose back on at all," juror Andre Hope said.

If others saw the noose as Smollett's clumsy effort to portray his attackers as racist, Andre Hope saw much more. "As an African American person, I'm not putting that noose back on at all, " Andre Hope told WLS-TV. “I was concerned because I don’t think there’s many Black people in America with a noose around their neck and wouldn’t immediately take it off,” Johnson said. Hope said the counter narrative put forth by Smollett's attorneys that the pair had actually planned the attack on Smollett did not make sense. But after all the evidence was presented, after all the witnesses testified, Hope still has one big question.

The lone Black juror on the panel that convicted Jussie Smollett of lying to Chicago police about what authorities say was a staged hate crime says he cannot get past how the actor put a noose around his neck when officers were coming to interview him.

If others saw the noose as Smollett's clumsy effort to portray his attackers as racist, Andre Hope saw much more. “As an African American person, I'm not putting that noose back on at all, " Andre Hope told WLS-TV. At trial, Smollett testified that after the attack in downtown Chicago in January 2019, he returned home and put the rope back around his neck so police who came to his apartment soon after could see it. In an interview with NewsNation Now after Smollett was found guilty last Thursday, Eddie Johnson — who was Chicago police superintendent in January 2019 when Smollett said he was attacked — said virtually the same thing.

The trial of a Minnesota police officer charged in the shooting death of Daunte Wright has opened its second week of testimony with an assistant medical examiner telling jurors that his gunshot wound was not survivable. (Dec. 13)

The jury's guilty verdict that Jussie Smollett faked a racist and homophobic attack isn’t the end of legal proceedings for the former “Empire” actor or others.

Jussie Smollett’s conviction for lying to police has come nearly three years after his report of a horrifying hate crime quickly became part of a polarized political landscape.

A jury has completed deliberations for the day in the trial of actor Jussie Smollett on charges he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lied to Chicago police about it.

Jussie Smollett has repeatedly denied he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself for publicity, telling a prosecutor that “there was no hoax on my part” and that two brothers who testified against him are “liars.”.

As Jussie Smollett fights criminal charges that he lied to Chicago police about being the victim of an anti-gay, racist attack, his supporters are also working on a broader strategy: Ensuring the 39-year-old emerges from the scandal with his reputation and career intact, whatever the outcome of the trial.

Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has testified that claims he staged an anti-gay, racist attack on himself are “100% false.”.

After two brothers spent hours telling a jury how Jussie Smollett paid them to carry out a fake racist and anti-gay attack on himself, the big question when the actor's trial resumes is whether he will tell his side of the story.

The state has rested its case to jurors at Jussie Smollett’s trial after key testimony from two brothers who said the actor plotted a racist and anti-gay attack on himself and paid them to carry it out.

A man who worked with Jussie Smollett says the former “Empire” actor recruited him and his brother to fake a homophobic and racist attack.

A lead investigator of an alleged attack on Jussie Smollett says two brothers arrested for the reported crime recounted for Chicago police how the ex-“Empire” actor orchestrated the elaborate hoax.

Jussie Smollett's defense attorney says he is a “real victim” of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago in January 2019.

Jussie Smollett is going on trial this week, accused of lying to police when he reported he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack downtown Chicago nearly three years ago.

A judge has ruled that Jussie Smollett’s attorneys cannot call as a witness the Chicago prosecutor whose office dropped initial charges accusing the actor of staging a racist, anti-gay attack on himself in 2019.

A judge has ruled that he won't kick one of Jussie Smollett's attorneys off his case but that the attorney won't be allowed to question two key witnesses if the case goes to trial.

FILE In this Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, file photo, Kajal Dalal walks through the her family's food and liquor store after it was vandalized in downtown Chicago. A Chicago police task force that was formed after crowds swarmed into downtown and smashed their way into hundreds of stores in August is still investigating and making arrests four months later. They keep adding to the nearly 100 video clips they've posted online in the hopes someone might identify suspects. “The message (to suspects) is the task force isn’t quitting ... and you will eventually be found and arrested,” Deputy Chief Brendan Deenihan said. Just as detectives stitched together videos to follow two men who allegedly participated in the attack on Smollett, Looting Task Force detectives followed suspects as they moved from store to store.