JUSSIE SMOLLETT

An appeals court has upheld the disorderly conduct convictions of actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police.

Jussie Smollett’s lawyers have told an Illinois appellate court that it should toss the former “Empire” actor’s convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 in Chicago has denied a last-ditch effort to dismiss a criminal case against actor Jussie Smollett.

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.

“There were not thousands of (or, arguably any) similar cases” resolved by Foxx's office the way they resolved Smollett’s case, Webb said. And Smollett, Webb noted, was able to walk away without admitting any wrongdoing. Webb said Foxx began speaking to her before suspicions were raised that Jussie Smollett may have staged the attack on himself. “State’s Attorney Foxx then made false statements to the media claiming she ceased all communications with Ms. Smollett,” Webb concluded. The alleged false statements started to pile up.

“The Jussie Smollett case was a pebble in the giant boulder of her career. She isn’t getting a fair shake.”Foxx is counting on more voters like Smith as she seeks a second term against three Democratic primary challengers who've seized on the Smollett case and a fractured relationship with police. Things worsened when the Smollett charges were dropped. Still, the Smollett case does resonate with some. Chicagoan Demetrius Williams, 35, voted for Foxx before but thinks Smollett got off easy and will support Conway.

Could Jussie Smollett be making his return to Empire? Fox, who stars as Candace on the series, stopped by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Sunday and opened up about Smollett's exit from Empire ahead of its sixth and final season. "That was tough," Fox admitted of creator Lee Daniels' decision to cut Smollett from the Fox series. Despite that drama, Fox said that "of course" she's still in touch with Smollett, adding, "I love him. RELATED CONTENT: 'Empire': Serayah Reacts to Jussie Smollett Not Returning for Season 6 (Exclusive) Embed Code RestartTerrence Howard Says He Misses Jussie Smollett on 'Empire': 'He Was the Heart of Our Show'How 'Empire' Addressed Jussie Smollett's Absence in Final SeasonFox Boss Reveals How 'Empire' Will Address Jussie Smollett's Absence in Final Season

(CNN) - A federal judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the City of Chicago against actor Jussie Smollett, court documents show. A legal battle is being fought in federal court as Chicago seeks to recover more than $130,000 to cover police overtime during the investigation of Smollett's report of a hate crime attack in January. After police investigated the case for weeks, they said investigators believed Smollett staged the attack to bolster his profile and career. Tuesday, US District Judge Virginia Kendall denied Smollett's request to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed to the discovery phase. Chicago's Department of Law filed the lawsuit in state court in April but the case was later moved to federal court.

Terrence Howard is standing by Jussie Smollett even now that he's off Empire. "And then, out of nowhere, you know, he's snatched away from us," he continued. Jamal's absence in the sixth and final season has simply been explained by his mother, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), saying he left for London to escape the Lyon drama. When Empire does air its final episode, Howard plans to walk away from acting, something he said he's "dead serious" about. RELATED CONTENT:Terrence Howard Expresses Support for Jussie Smollett After Felony Charge: 'We Love the Hell Outta You'How 'Empire' Addressed Jussie Smollett's Absence in Final SeasonFox Boss Reveals How 'Empire' Will Address Jussie Smollett's Absence in Final Season

Warning: Spoilers below from Tuesday's final season premiere of Empire. Empire kicked off its sixth and final season without former star Jussie Smollett, but how did Fox's hip-hop drama explain his absence? In August, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier hinted at how producers planned on addressing Smollett's abrupt absence in the show's final run, saying Jamal would be spending it in post-wedded bliss. "I'm running away [from acting] as quickly as possible to get to where I'm supposed to be. RELATED CONTENT:'Empire' Star Terrence Howard Says He's 'Running Away From Acting' After Final Season (Exclusive)Fox Boss Reveals How 'Empire' Will Address Jussie Smollett's Absence in Final SeasonEmmys 2019: 10 Moments You Didn't See on TV

CHICAGO - A Chicago judge Wednesday denied a request by Jussie Smollett's lawyers that a replacement judge be assigned in the former "Empire" actor's special prosecutor case, in addition to rejecting other motions put forward by Smollett's team. Judge Michael Toomin also denied a motion asking that Smollett's lawyers be allowed to intervene and argue other motions during the court appearance. Smollett's lawyers had hoped to use the brothers' testimony to reveal inconsistencies in their stories, as they are the only two witnesses in the case. Bodycam footage yields new detailsNo timeline has been provided for when Toomin will select a special prosecutor. In the case of a formal recusal, Toomin wrote, the court would have been responsible for appointing a special prosecutor.

Police just released nearly 70 hours of footage in the Jussie Smollett case, including video of him showing police the noose that was allegedly put around his neck. In the video, police arrive at Smolletts apartment after he called 911 and the noose can be seen around his neck. In the footage, he tells investigators two men shouted homophobic slurs at him and put the noose around his neck. In another newly released video, the brothers can be seen in hazmat suits inside a taxi. Chris Rock Wonders 'What the Hell' Jussie Smollett Was ThinkingJussie Smollett Indicted on 16 Counts by Grand Jury