Jussie Smollet Charged Again

Actor Jussie Smollet was charged on Tuesday, Feb. 12 for the second time for lying to police about a racist and anti-gay attack he allegedly staged on himself.

 The charges came from a special prosecutor who was appointed after the country prosecutors dropped the same charges in March of 2019. 

Smollet faces six felony counts of disorderly conduct coming from four separate false reports that were filed to the police. 

In the reports, Smollet contends that he was a victim of a hate crime, with prosecutors arguing that Smollet knew he was not the victim of a crime. 

In August 2019, a judge appointed a special prosecutor to look into why the original charges were dropped. 

According to the judge, double jeopardy would not apply because Smollet was never prosecuted. 

In February 2019, Smollet was charged with disorderly conduct for his alleged staging of the attack and lying about it to investigators. 

These allegations were dropped a month after with little explanation. 

Smollet told police he was walking home on Jan. 29, 2019, when two masked men approached him and attacked him. 

Weeks later, authorities alleged that Smollet paid two friends to stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary on “Empire” and using the scheme to build publicity for himself. 

The city where the incident took place also sued Smollet for reimbursement for more than $130,000 for overtime pay of officers involved in investigation Smollet’s report. 

This case has become an issue for Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx who is facing re-election. 

Part of the investigation into why the original charges were dropped included investigating phone calls between Foxx and a Smollett relative. Foxx has recused herself from the case but has continued to weigh in.

Associated Press contributed reporting. Contact Emma Pollans at epollans@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.