Staff Reports
Jussie Smollett, known for his role on “Empire,” is in hot water after an Illinois appeals court upheld his conviction for staging a hate crime. The decision, delivered by a three-judge panel in a 2-1 vote, rejected Smollett’s appeal, potentially leading to him serving the remaining days of his 150-day sentence.
Jussie Smollett Gets Bad News From Court After MAGA Hoaxhttps://t.co/HNsny7a3I3
— Sheri™ (@FFT1776) December 1, 2023
The appeals court didn’t buy Smollett’s argument that the initial decision not to prosecute by Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx should have shielded him from further legal trouble. The dissenting justice believed that Foxx’s decision effectively promised Smollett that the case was over, but the two other justices disagreed, affirming the need for Smollett to be held accountable for his actions.
In case you forgot, Smollett made headlines in 2019 when he claimed he was attacked by two men yelling, “This is MAGA country.” He alleged that they poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck. However, it was later revealed that the attackers were actually two brothers from Nigeria, who testified that Smollett paid them to stage the attack. Talk about a drama-filled plot twist!
Smollett’s legal team is now gearing up to take the fight to the Supreme Court, armed with what they claim is a substantial body of evidence. But the special prosecutor, Dan K. Webb, sees the appellate court’s ruling as a win for the justice system and a validation of the hard work put into the case.
While Smollett has been trying to stay busy with music and film projects, the legal battle has been ongoing. His team has argued that reviving the prosecution violated his due process rights and accused the circuit court judge of bias. They even claimed that the revived charges violated the Fifth Amendment and double jeopardy precedents, which prevent prosecutors from bringing the same charges against a defendant twice. Phew, that’s a lot of legal jargon!
As Smollett and his team gear up for a potential Supreme Court appeal, the outcome remains uncertain. If the conviction stands, Smollett will be facing the music and serving the remainder of his jail sentence. It looks like justice might finally be catching up with him!
