EXPLAINER: What charges did Jussie Smollett face at trial?

KIFI

Published November 29, 2021 5:03 PM

By MICHAEL TARM
AP Legal Affairs Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — The legal saga surrounding Jussie Smollett’s claim in 2019 that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago has culminated in a trial, which concluded with a jury convicting him on five counts of disorderly conduct. Smollett was acquitted Thursday of a sixth count. Initial charges brought in February 2019 that accused the former “Empire” actor of faking the assault were soon after tossed. But a new indictment was filed in February 2020 after a special prosecutor looked into the case. Smollett was charged under Illinois’ disorderly conduct statute, which encompasses a wide range of offenses.

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