Empire Actor Jussie Smollett’s Hate Crime Hoax Conviction Overturned: What You Need to Know
The Illinois Supreme Court has overturned Jussie Smollett’s 2021 conviction for staging a hate crime.
The court ruled that the actor’s prosecution violated his Fifth Amendment rights because he had already reached a plea agreement in 2019.
This agreement required him to pay $10,000 and perform community service in exchange for the dismissal of the charges.
Smollett’s legal team argued that the subsequent prosecution was unfair and vindictive. The court emphasized that agreements with defendants must be honored, ensuring fairness in the justice system.