(RepublicanNews.org) – Jussie Smollett was once an actor for the show “Empire” set in Chicago. Now, he’s the center of controversy after falsely claiming he was attacked in 2019. Smollett’s career has tanked; he now faces punishment for his lies.
Smollett appeared in court on March 10 to learn his fate. Would he remain a free man, or was he facing incarceration? After an hours-long hearing, the judge decided it was best for Smollett to serve time in jail.
BREAKING: Jussie Smollett sentenced to jail for staging hate crime https://t.co/rdvtvGB6TX pic.twitter.com/deLIxVnGXK
— New York Post (@nypost) March 11, 2022
At the end of the five-hour-long hearing, Judge James Linn of Cook County, Illinois, sentenced the “Empire” actor to 150 days in jail. On top of the five-month jail sentence, Linn also demanded Smollett pay a maximum fine of $25,000 and $130,160. That money will cover the more than 1,000 hours of overtime law enforcement spent investigating Smollett’s false claims.
The judge allowed the $10,000 bond forfeiture the actor previously agreed to be subtracted from the $130K.
After a long-winded oral ruling, Judge Linn’s decision blasted Smollett for lying to the jury under oath and accused him of damaging real hate crime victims. After Smollett serves his time in the Cook County Jail, he will serve 30 months of probation.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot welcomed the ruling. She feels that Smollett’s false claims send a message of permittivity to others insensitive enough to file false allegations. Holding him accountable might counter that negative influence and discourage future crimes.
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