Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 felony counts
The Jussie Smollett saga has come full circle.
The Empire actor was indicted on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct on Friday, CBS Chicago reports. The charges come after more than a month of confusion after Smollett said he was the victim of a homophobic and racist attack, which police now say was a fabrication.
A grand jury released the new charges against Smollett on Thursday and scheduled an arraignment for March 14, per CBS Chicago. The charges come in two sets: One set covering what Smollett originally told police about the attack, and one covering his interview with police later that day, ABC7 Chicago notes. Smollett faces a potential sentence of probation to four years in prison, and ABC7 Chicago says he'll probably arrive at a plea deal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Smollett first reported the attack in late January, alleging two men assaulted him while yelling slurs. After an investigation, police alleged Smollett staged the attack because he was dissatisfied with his Empire salary and charged him with one count of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. More scathing was Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson's statement that Smollett "took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career."
After being released on bail after his first charge, Smollett continued to claim he was innocent. Still, Fox opted to remove Smollett's role from the last two episodes of Empire's ongoing season as the legal process continued.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 23, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - Gen Z remonstrated, plastic recycling, and more
By The Week US Published
-
New York prosecutors lay out case against Trump
Speed Read The former president's first criminal trial started in earnest Monday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
You Are Here: the new David Nicholls 'past-their-prime' romance
The Week Recommends 'Midlife disenchantment' gives way to romance for two walkers on a cross-country hike
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published