Jussie Smollett convicted of staging attack, lying to police

By DON BABWIN and SARA BURNETT
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — A prosecutor in the case against Jussie Smollett says a jury’s guilty verdict is “a resounding message” that the former “Empire” actor staged an attack on himself and lied to police about it. The jury convicted Smollett Thursday on five of six charges he lied to Chicago police about being the victim of a a racist, anti-gay attack.  Jurors acquitted him on one charge. Two brothers testified during the nearly two-week trial that Smollett paid them to fake the January 2019 attack in downtown Chicago. Smollett repeatedly denied the claims, telling jurors “there was no hoax.” The charges carry a possible sentence of three years in prison, though legal experts say the 39-year-old Smollett is more likely to get probation and be ordered to perform community service.