![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PXYARXG5SKSYNE3W6B5ILC22NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c3e5a386bc08d2c7be6a174ef9b07e2082d82887fa34ce49d7918d7e3bc1189d&width=400&height=225)
From left: Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Taraji Henson as Cookie Lyon, Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon and Trai Byers as Andre Lyon. Photo: Fox Broadcasting
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Actor Jussie Smollett arrives with his mother Janet at a Chicago court on December 1. The former 'Empire' actor is accused of lying to police when he reported he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago nearly three years ago. AP
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A courtroom sketch of Smollett taking the stand in his defense on December 6. AP
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A sketch showing Smollett being questioned by his defense attorney Nenye Uche. AP
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Smollett raises his fist as he enters the Leighton Criminal Courthouse for the fifth day of his trial on December 6. EPA
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Smollett's case took an unexpected turn in the spring of 2019 when the Cook County state's attorney's office dropped a 16-count indictment against him. AFP
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Attorney Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, centre, walks with her clients Abimbola Osundairo, left, and Olabinjo Osundairo. The brothers claim Smollett paid them to stage the attack. AP
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Actor Jussie Smollett's defense attorney Nenye Uche. AP
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Special prosecutor Dan Webb. AP
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Jussie Smollett's brother Jojo, who read a statement to reporters outside the courthouse on November 30. AP
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Smollett is charged with six counts of felony disorderly conduct for making what prosecutors say was a false police report about the alleged attack – one count for each time he gave a report – to three different officers. The Class 4 felony carries a prison sentence of up to three years. EPA
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A still image from surveillance video, released by Chicago Police in 2019, shows what they said were two persons of interest in their investigation into an assault of Smollett. Reuters
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Jussie Smollett after his arrest by Chicago police in 2019. AP
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Smollett speaking at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on March 26, 2019, after prosecutors dropped all charges against him. AP
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The dismissal of Smollett's case in 2019 drew criticism from then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city's police superintendent, who called the reversal a miscarriage of justice. An investigation later revived the case, which has been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic. AP
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Smollett, from left, with Bryshere Gray, Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard in a scene from 'Empire'. Photo: Fox Broadcasting
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PXYARXG5SKSYNE3W6B5ILC22NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c3e5a386bc08d2c7be6a174ef9b07e2082d82887fa34ce49d7918d7e3bc1189d&width=400&height=225)
From left: Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Taraji Henson as Cookie Lyon, Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon and Trai Byers as Andre Lyon. Photo: Fox Broadcasting
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKZWMIK6ZKKBUIZBFMCS4FOPWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=71c0f3fcc0bbaa72f00cfdd569bc904360e43dbc15a8bcf56b7beb8fca307670&width=400&height=225)
Actor Jussie Smollett arrives with his mother Janet at a Chicago court on December 1. The former 'Empire' actor is accused of lying to police when he reported he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago nearly three years ago. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXMRIFSOCLRIA6SNFLFDUJVBFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4db0137a18d28b5218ceec89308060132a41ca669dc23aa03d15f1b127abd2d6&width=400&height=225)
A courtroom sketch of Smollett taking the stand in his defense on December 6. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WS6TKHEQI4DYFJXPGWR3UDQCOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=72743f46cb0b2e4ca4d456a610d2100b393fb6b686b2b362e9ea63f4d5826054&width=400&height=225)
A sketch showing Smollett being questioned by his defense attorney Nenye Uche. AP
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Smollett raises his fist as he enters the Leighton Criminal Courthouse for the fifth day of his trial on December 6. EPA
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Smollett's case took an unexpected turn in the spring of 2019 when the Cook County state's attorney's office dropped a 16-count indictment against him. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O5YMKTBXHTYVNI3AGAMMBHW35E.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a75b8bed51d75b6cd1d11b3b857f6cefbf2d9f4d34d1d8611df9fdfb21a0f4d&width=400&height=225)
Attorney Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, centre, walks with her clients Abimbola Osundairo, left, and Olabinjo Osundairo. The brothers claim Smollett paid them to stage the attack. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z7PMU2PTGU2DPJVTNTBG3ZAAEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce3bfdc490cb1dd5e036807e4e87364edb7576290f93d9700071a02debba246f&width=400&height=225)
Actor Jussie Smollett's defense attorney Nenye Uche. AP
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Special prosecutor Dan Webb. AP
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Jussie Smollett's brother Jojo, who read a statement to reporters outside the courthouse on November 30. AP
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Smollett is charged with six counts of felony disorderly conduct for making what prosecutors say was a false police report about the alleged attack – one count for each time he gave a report – to three different officers. The Class 4 felony carries a prison sentence of up to three years. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PXWDY77OIEO6XAR46AFAUPEEFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc4e285fc3b6e0c6c8bc3800a07e3f8ebdb0f94cdcd6ebeeae69fa64f51a5ea5&width=400&height=225)
A still image from surveillance video, released by Chicago Police in 2019, shows what they said were two persons of interest in their investigation into an assault of Smollett. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BWP447IMEZHZ772RCYVN4EYD4E.jpg?smart=true&auth=e184f45652eecb22efa760e6fb0317ee074f3cd2855ae969b545d571fcf11e0b&width=400&height=225)
Jussie Smollett after his arrest by Chicago police in 2019. AP
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Smollett speaking at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on March 26, 2019, after prosecutors dropped all charges against him. AP
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The dismissal of Smollett's case in 2019 drew criticism from then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city's police superintendent, who called the reversal a miscarriage of justice. An investigation later revived the case, which has been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIVGZKIQYVR5HO4L3C5YIZ4LOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=08c3bd967716505d39aa12f22faa2d387d6d0cfe1dc8bbfe6918e269d933d450&width=400&height=225)
Smollett, from left, with Bryshere Gray, Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard in a scene from 'Empire'. Photo: Fox Broadcasting
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From left: Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Taraji Henson as Cookie Lyon, Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon and Trai Byers as Andre Lyon. Photo: Fox Broadcasting
The bizarre trial of former 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett: what happens next?
Almost three years after the incident, the actor has been found guilty of staging an attack on himself. Here's everything you need to know
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The National
11 December, 2021
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