Judge firms up trial date for Smollett, won’t dismiss case

CHICAGO (AP) — A judge in Chicago has denied a last-ditch effort to dismiss a criminal case against actor Jussie Smollett. Smollett is accused of lying to police when he reported that two masked men attacked him in downtown Chicago in January 2019. Smollett’s lawyer argued that his rights were being violated since he had already performed community service and given up a $10,000 bond in a deal with Cook County prosecutors to drop charges. But Judge James Linn noted that Smollett’s case now is being handled by a special prosecutor. Linn says he won’t interfere. Trial is set for Nov. 29.