CHICAGO - Television actor Jussie Smollett, arrested last month on a single charge of perpetrating a hate-crime hoax, has been newly indicted on 16 felony counts of falsely reporting to police that he was assaulted by two strangers shouting racist and homophobic slurs.
The new indictment in the case contains 16 similar counts: eight related to his interview with one police officer on the day of the purported attack and eight more stemming from his interview with another officer the same day.Smollett’s attorney, Mark Geragos, blasted the indictment in a statement as “redundant and vindictive,” adding that his client “adamantly maintains his innocence even if law enforcement has robbed him of that presumption.
FILE PHOTO: Jussie Smollett exits Cook County Department of Corrections after posting bail in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Lott/File PhotoSmollett has remained free on $100,000 bond since his release hours after surrendering to authorities on Feb. 21. He already was scheduled to return to court on March 14.
According to previous police recitations of Smollett’s story, he reported that two masked men approached him on the street in the early hours of Jan. 29 shouting racial and homophobic slurs, struck him in the face, doused him with an “unknown chemical substance” and wrapped a rope around his neck before they fled.
His attorneys said after his arrest on Feb. 21 they were conducting a thorough investigation for purposes of mounting the actor’s defense.
Source: Entertainment Trends (entertainmenttrends.net)
JussieSmollett He wishes
Only 16?
So last season of Empire. Thank you next.
I'm guessing Mr Smollett, if convicted, will serve more than 47 months for these 'heinous crimes.' You know, because he's...an actor.
Put him in a cell with the r Kelly
Pure racist and homophobic policing.
Dude is a racist, and it was seen all day, everyday on set.
Hey JussieSmollett are you saving the world by lying? Endgame
Yay! Now I hope Chicago selects a Mayor that will allow the police to do their job!! Mayor Rohm Emanuel, the media, a few people who labeled themselves as “activist” disarmed the police and made it a lawless city! WE ARE SICK OF IT. It’s like we live in Detroit!
Toss his sorry $$ in jail!!! People complain about the severity of hate crimes and their consequences...this punk manipulates that for his own selfish gain...and that is ABHORRENT!!!
I sure hope he doesn’t beat himself up over this!
He lied to his fans and the whole world, if there is any justice he won't even get another acting job.
Plain and simple. This guys is simply “out to save the world”,. What a joke! All i see is a punk in-sighting a race war. If he were white he be called racist! He claims total innocence. LIE.Make an example of this wanker
Why did he have to do that though? 🤦🏿♀️
Guess his career path has taken a right turn.
He should be jailed for such actions
The blind whip of justice strikes yet again....
OJ is looking for the suspects.
Well, as he is a black man, I am sure his punishment will be more severe than ManafortSentence
Career: Over Jail time: Never
Geragos, overkill is what this dude did, Jussie is the racist and deserves all 16 felonies. This dude has money, fame, hit show, talent...he couldn’t just leave it alone and enjoy his life?! I hope he gets the help he desperately and obviously requires.
For an actor he played his role as an abused Gay Man very poorly. His next role will be as Igor or the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Probably will not be playing the Good Guy for awhile. Instead of making $65,000 an episode he will be making license plates at the state pen.
His Empire continues to crumble.
Deserves it!!
Another fallen soldier of the FakeNewsMedia.
Finally, something needs to be done when people of color lie for attention in the wrong way! Racism in America is no joke!
Naw its ok brah, he just have a drug problem
jesuisjessie
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