They Did It Again: Trump Set Another Trap for Dems on Rogue Judges
How a CNN Political Commentator Shut Down the Leftist Meltdown Over the FBI...
A Judge Was Arrested for Trying to Help an Illegal Alien Escape. Let's...
Whoever Did This to Shedeur Sanders During the NFL Draft Is Cold-Blooded
Lawless in the Courtroom
If It Saves One Life?
The Party of Racism, Prejudice, and Bias
Trump: I'm Not 'Trolling' When I Say Canada Should Join the US
Hakeem Jeffries Boasts About Blocking Citizen-Only Voting Rule
Nancy Mace Blasts Clemson’s 15-Gender Lunacy
Trump Meets With Zelensky While in Rome for Pope Francis' Funeral
These Posts From Ed Markey, Amy Klobuchar in Reaction to Judge's Arrest Were...
The U.S. Should Learn From a Diminished Europe’s Energy Mistakes
Democrats Should Love the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Trump’s Tax Cuts Worked — Now Make Them Permanent
Tipsheet

BREAKING: Jussie Smollett Found Guilty on Five of Six Counts

AP Photo/Paul Beaty

A Chicago jury reached its verdict in the trial of Jussie Smollett on Thursday evening, finding the actor guilty of five felony counts of disorderly conduct and not guilty of the sixth count he faced. 

Advertisement

As Townhall reported at the time charges were filed by a special prosecutor, Smollett faced "six felony counts of disorderly conduct, charges that stem from four separate false reports that he gave to police in which he contended he was a victim of a hate crime 'knowing that he was not the victim of a crime.'" 

NBC Chicago broke down the specifics of each count: 

Count 1 accuses him of telling responding Chicago Police Officer Muhammed Baig at around 2:45 a.m., some 45 minutes after the purported attack, that he was the victim of a hate crime. He said two attackers put a rope around his neck. Count 2 refers to Smollett telling the same officer he was a victim of a battery, describing attackers beating and pouring bleach on him.

Counts 3 and 4 are when Smollett made the same claims but to a different officer, Kimberly Murray, later that morning, at just before 6 a.m.

Count 5 accuses Smollett of again telling Murray at around 7:15 p.m. that he was the victim of a battery. Count 6 refers to Smollett reporting on Feb. 14, 2019, to detective Robert Graves that he’d been a victim of an aggravated battery.

And while the felony with which Smollett was charged carries a maximum of three years in prison, legal experts say it's likely the former "Empire" actor will only face probation and community service as a sentence.

The jury began its deliberations around 3:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday and continued until a little after 6:00 p.m. ET, then resumed Thursday morning at 10:10 a.m. ET before announcing it had reached a verdict after roughly nine hours of deliberations over the two days. 

Advertisement

The trial itself at times became as entertaining as the details of the hate crime hoax Smollett was accused of orchestrating against himself. 

As Guy covered, it was revealed during the trial that Smollett had taken his "attackers" on a dry run the day before the actual crime took place in order to make sure they were all familiar with the roles they'd be playing... a rehearsal that was caught on camera. 

Another interesting nugget was related to the mainstream media's role in the hoax and its aftermath and how Smollett found out he was under investigation. After initially believing Smollett's story without question, much of the liberal media cast aside any questions about Smollett's ludicrous tale, and attacked those who poked holes in the fib. Among them was CNN, specifically anchor Don Lemon, who said Smollett's plight was "personal" for him. 

As Landon reported, "the 39-year-old Smollett said in his court testimony that he received a text from Lemon, who supposedly informed the "Empire" star that the CPD did not believe his attack occurred the way he described it." Thanks to Lemon's tip-off, Smollett knew to guard his information when talking with authorities and delayed turning over his cell phone, Smollett explained on the witness stand.

Advertisement

At the time of Smollett's claim, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were among those who bought the story, likely because it was just too good for their narrative to bother waiting for more information.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement