Jussie Smollett

The Illinois appellate court initially upheld the conviction in December 2023. On 21 November 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned it, finding that the second prosecution violated due process because the state was required to honour the agreement that had resulted in dismissal of the first case.

The judge sentenced Smollett to 30 months' probation, including 150 days in jail, $120,106 in restitution to Chicago and a $25,000 fine.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After six days in custody, Smollett was released under financial conditions while his appeal was considered.

State of the evidence

Documented

Following the second trial, a jury found Smollett guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct for making false police reports and acquitted him on the sixth.

Attribution

Directly implicated

The special prosecutor indicted Smollett again, this time on six felony disorderly conduct counts concerning his statements to investigators.

Attribution

Accused

Smollett reported being attacked in Chicago by two men who allegedly shouted racist and homophobic insults, struck him and placed a rope around his neck.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following an investigation by Chicago police, Smollett was arrested and accused of filing a false police report concerning the attack he had described.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

A grand jury indicted Smollett on sixteen felony disorderly conduct counts relating to statements he had made to police about the alleged attack.

Attribution

Accused

Cook County prosecutors entered a nolle prosequi on all counts in the first case after Smollett completed community service and agreed that his $10,000 bond would be forfeited to the city.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

The rapid dismissal of charges prompted major controversy over the prosecution service's handling of the case. A judge eventually appointed former federal prosecutor Dan Webb as special prosecutor to review the matter.

State of the evidence

Documented