Jussie Smollett’s Long-Awaited Trial For Allegedly Staging A Hate Attack Against Himself Starts Today

Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett’s Long-Awaited Trial For Allegedly Staging A Hate Attack Against Himself Starts Today

New details have surfaced in the ongoing case surrounding Jussie Smollett’s hate crime claims.

According to reports, after multiple delays, ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett, 39, will be heading to trial today (Nov. 29) for allegedly staging an attack against himself. Jury selection is scheduled to begin today as well.

As previously reported, in 2019 Jussie Smollett made headlines after claiming he was attacked in downtown Chicago at 2 a.m. by 2 white men who called him racist and homophobic slurs. He also reported that his attackers placed a rope around his neck and poured an “unknown substance” on him. He added that before the attackers left the scene they yelled out,

“This is MAGA country!”

However, after an investigation took place, law enforcement and prosecutors accused Jussie Smollett of lying about what actually occurred and being the mastermind behind the alleged incident. Smollett was ultimately indicted by a Cook County Illinois grand jury on 6 counts for allegedly lying to law enforcement. The indictment calls the 6 charges felony “disorderly conduct,” which is a class 4 felony that carries a sentence of up to 3 years in prison.

The 6 count indictment came after Smollett seemingly had a small victory in his ongoing legal battle and the 16 felony disorderly conduct counts he was initially facing were unexpectedly dropped.

Jussie Smollett

According to reports, 2 witnesses that are expected to testify against Smollett are Nigerian ??brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo. These men have previously shared that they were paid by Smollett to help stage the infamous attack against him.

Despite prosecutors’ argument that Smollett puppeteered his own attack, the actor has maintained his innocence throughout the whole ordeal. He was joined today by a large crowd of supporters and family members, including sister Jurnee Smollett, 35, as he headed into the courthouse.

Do you think Jussie Smollett staged this infamous attack? Tell us in the comments below!