The conviction against actor Jussie Smollett for falsely reporting a hate crime to Chicago police in 2019 has been overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court over prosecutorial issues.
The judges noted that the case generated "significant public interest" and many felt the case's original resolution was unjust.
But the Chicago Police Department later said that Smollett recruited the brothers to help him stage the attack.
Smollett was arrested in February 2019 and indicted that March on 16 felony counts over allegedly filing a false police report.
Both brothers said during the trial that Smollett hired them to stage an attack as a ploy for public attention, noting a $3,500 check Smollett paid them.
Persons:
Jussie Smollett, Dan Webb, Smollett, ”, —, ” Webb, Ola, Abimbola Osundairo —, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Kimberly Foxx, Emanuel, Abimbola Osundairo
Organizations:
Chicago police, Illinois Supreme, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Mayor
Locations:
Cook, Illinois, Chicago’s Streeterville