Jussie Smollett’s hate crime hoax conviction upheld by appeals court
OAN’s James Meyers
3:22 PM – Friday, December 1, 2023
Disgraced actor Jussie Smollett could be heading back to jail after orchestrating a hate crime in 2019 that caused a media frenzy.
On Friday, an Illinois appeals court upheld the Empire actor’s conviction, which included five felony counts of disorderly conduct related to the fabricated “racist, homophobic attack.” He was also sentenced to 150 days in prison in 2021.
In a 2-1 decision, Justice David Navarro and Justice Mary Ellen Coghlan agreed on upholding the conviction, while Judge Freddrenna Lyle dissented, according to court documents.
In 2019, Smollett reported to Chicago police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two men wearing ski masks. Smollett falsely claimed that the two men were Trump supporters who were wearing “red MAGA hats” and that they said “This is MAGA country” before assaulting him.
However, the search for the attackers turned into an investigation on Smollett and resulted in an arrest after it was discovered that he had actually paid the two men, whom he knew from the cast of Empire, to help him orchestrate the fake hate crime.
During the process, lawyers for Smollett still maintained that he was the victim of racial injustice.
During the sentencing hearing, Smollett claimed innocence. “I did not do this, and I am not suicidal, and if anything happens to me when I go there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that,” Smollett said.
Special prosecutor Dan Webb, told TMZ that the ruling was “a resounding and profound victory.”
“Having a dissenting voice in the ruling is not uncommon. The decision by the appeals court is final,” he insisted.
“What happens next is Mr. Smollett can file a petition for a higher appeal to The Illinois Supreme Court,” Webb continued.
“This is purely discretionary meaning the court does not have to hear this appeal. He lost all legal rights to an appeal with today’s decision. If the Supreme Court decides to hear his appeal, there will be briefs filed and a hearing date set. If not, then the case goes back to the trial court, which will execute his sentence.”
Smollet’s team said that they will continue fighting the decision.
“We are preparing to escalate this matter to the Supreme Court, armed with a substantial body of evidence,” a rep for the actor told TMZ.
The disgraced actor reported to jail on March 10th, 2022 and was released only six days later pending his appeal.
After Smollett’s legal team files for another appeal, the Illinois Supreme Court will decide whether or not they will hear the case. If the conviction is not overturned, he will be required to serve out the rest of his 150-day jail sentence.
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How does the Illinois appeals court’s decision to uphold Smollett’s conviction impact the credibility of the justice system?
R not to hear the case. If they choose not to hear it, Smollett will have to serve his sentence in its entirety. However, if the Supreme Court decides to hear the appeal, the case will go through the appeals process again and the final outcome will be determined by the court.
The conviction and sentencing of Jussie Smollett have been a highly controversial and widely publicized case. When the alleged hate crime was first reported, it garnered significant attention and sympathy from the media and the public. However, as the investigation progressed, it became clear that Smollett had staged the attack in order to gain attention and sympathy for himself. This revelation shocked many and led to a loss of credibility for the actor.
The decision by the Illinois appeals court to uphold Smollett’s conviction is an important step towards justice. It sends a clear message that fabricating a hate crime is a serious offense that will not be tolerated. It also serves as a reminder that the justice system is designed to hold individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their status or popularity.
The dissenting opinion by Judge Freddrenna Lyle highlights the complexity of the case and the differing perspectives on the matter. However, with a 2-1 majority in favor of upholding the conviction, it is clear that the majority of the appeals court justices believe in the validity of the evidence and the fairness of the trial.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if Jussie Smollett’s legal team is able to mount a successful appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. They have stated that they have substantial evidence to support their case, but it will ultimately be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether or not to hear it. Regardless of the outcome, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the justice system and ensuring that justice is served.
In conclusion, the Illinois appeals court’s decision to uphold Jussie Smollett’s conviction is a significant step towards justice. It sends a clear message that fabricating a hate crime is a serious offense that will not be tolerated. Whether or not the case will be heard by the Illinois Supreme Court is yet to be determined. Regardless, the outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for the credibility of the justice system and the consequences for those who seek to deceive.
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