Latest news on jussie smollett

Jussie Smollett, the American actor and singer, has been involved in a high-profile controversy surrounding a reported hate crime attack on him in January 2019. Here are some of the latest updates on the case:

Recent Developments:

• In February 2022, the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Jussie Smollett, seeking to recover the costs of investigating the alleged hate crime. The lawsuit alleges that Smollett's false report of the attack wasted valuable police resources and caused unnecessary harm to the city.
• In March 2022, a judge ruled that Smollett must pay the city $620,000 in damages, plus interest, for the costs of investigating the alleged hate crime.
• In April 2022, Smollett's legal team filed an appeal of the judge's ruling, arguing that the city's lawsuit was "unconstitutional" and that Smollett was "vindicated" by a special prosecutor's report that cleared him of any wrongdoing.
• In May 2022, a Cook County judge denied Smollett's request to delay the payment of the damages, ruling that Smollett must pay the city the full amount of $620,000 by June 1, 2022.

Background:

• On January 29, 2019, Jussie Smollett reported to the Chicago Police Department that he had been attacked by two masked men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him, poured bleach on him, and put a noose around his neck.
• The investigation into the attack was widely publicized, and Smollett's story was met with widespread outrage and support from many in the entertainment industry and beyond.
• However, in March 2019, the Chicago Police Department announced that they had reopened the investigation into the attack after new evidence came to light.
• In March 2019, Smollett was charged with filing a false police report, and in April 2019, he was indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct.
• In March 2020, Smollett's legal team reached a deal with prosecutors in which he would plead guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct and serve 150 days of community service.
• In February 2021, a special prosecutor was appointed to investigate the handling of the case by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

Reactions and Controversies:

• The case has been widely criticized for its handling, with many arguing that Smollett's story was exaggerated or fabricated, and that the investigation was botched.
• Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, and his legal team has argued that he was the victim of a hate crime.
• The case has also sparked controversy over issues of race, sexuality, and the media's handling of the story.
• Many have criticized the media for initially reporting the story as a hate crime without sufficient evidence, and for not adequately investigating the case before reporting on it.

Overall, the Jussie Smollett case has been a highly controversial and divisive issue, with many questions still surrounding the events of January 2019 and the subsequent investigation and legal proceedings.