Smollett faces up to three years in jail if convicted on the felony charge
Jussie Smollett surrendered to police at 5:15 AM local Chicago time Thursday morning, literally hours after Cook County prosecutors approved charging him with one count of filing a false police report. Smollett was arrested and jailed, CNN reports.
The “Empire” actor is accused of faking a hate crime attack on himself. As recently as one week ago Smollett was interviewed on ABC News, saying he could not understand why people did not believe his story.
He claims, and has not changed his story, that two men in late January attacked him in the hours just after midnight, tied a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him. He says they shouted, “This is MAGA country,” referring to the President’s campaign slogan.
A 1:30 PM appearance to determine bail is scheduled for Thursday. Smollett faces up to three years in jail if convicted on the felony charge, which is considered “disorderly conduct.”
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