Jussie Smollett verdict: Reactions pour in after actor found guilty for staging hate crime By FOX 32 Chicago

Embattled former Empire actor, jussie Smollett found guilty of five of the six, felony charges for staging a hate crime in Chicago and 2019. The actors attorney already vowing to appeal. Casey Kronos has been following this trial all week and begins our team coverage. The jury came to their decision after more than nine hours of deliberations. The special prosecutor calling this, a win. The defense. Telling us, they aren’t finished yet after nearly two weeks. And what’s

At times it contentious trial, jussie. Smollett learns. His fate found guilty on five of six counts for staging a phony hate crime against himself. In January, 2019, then lying to police and then compounded his Crimes by lying to the jury special prosecutor. Dan Webb says the verdict vindicates, the Chicago Police Department, which spent nearly 3,000 man-hours investigating costing. The city well over.

Hundred thousand dollars for a fake crime that never occurred in. By the way, a fake crime that denigrates. What a real hate crime is throughout the trial. Jurors her days of testimony, including from the former Empire actor, himself Smollett took the stand in an attempt to sway. Jurors, denying. He ever orchestrated the attack, the attorney for the O Sendero brothers who say they were paid to carry out the hate crime. Hoax tells us they will comment on the verdict when

Already, there are still a part of them. That is hurting. Remember that when I said they would call cooperate that was still knowing that they regretted their role. In this lead, defense. Attorney Netanyahu. Jay says he absolutely plans to appeal. We respect the jury process, what we feel confident. We’ll be back here. There was, there was so much doubt in this case and and out because he is absolutely 100% innocent. Well Smollett remained stoic.

In the courtroom and did not comment as he was rushed out of the courthouse. Luce says, the actor is disappointed, but confident, his name will be cleared. Both sides are set to meet with Judge Lynn over, zoom on January 27th to set a sentencing date. Reporting from the latent Criminal Court House, Casey Cronus, Fox 32, Chicago. Jesse Smollett left the courthouse tonight without answering questions, but he did deliver a message to his fans. Tia Ewing continues our team coverage.

Before the verdict ever came down, we heard from jussie Smollett through a post on Instagram. Jussie Smollett speaking out 10 hours before the verdict came down. He posted this clip of a song called This Day performed by Whitney Houston. The Jury didn’t see it. That way. Smollett was found guilty on five out of six charges for lying to Chicago Police an

Trading a hate crime on himself.

Special prosecutor, Dan Webb says, the fake news, is what he believes did Smollett in. He actually rigged that rope? Those pictures showed that he actually after he went through this fake attack. Wanted to make it look better. And I think that impacted the jury, that’s what I think. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim. Fox did recuse herself from the case. Almost a month. After Justice Millette claimed the attack happened. Fox released. This statement saying the jury has spoken while this case has garnered a lot of attention.

Tension, we hope as a county we can move forward. It’s my Lots legal troubles aren’t over the city is still out to recoup over 130,000 dollars for investigating. The case, Chicago’s Law Department, says quote, the city intends to continue to pursue its lawsuit to hold Smollett accountable for his unlawful actions before sentencing ever happens. There will be a pre-sentencing investigation to look at everything in smollett’s past. It’s likely his legal team will seek an appeal safe.

Example, he’s put on probation, which a lot of us expect while he’s serving that probation, his appeal will still go forward and we did reach out to the Chicago Police Department for a statement on the verdict, but they declined to comment in downtown Tia Ewing box 32, Chicago.