Why is Jussie Smollett on trial?

EMPIRE actor Jussie Smollett is on trial after he was accused by Chicago Police of paying two men to attack him in a bid to boost his career.

The court hearing, where the TV star will face the reinstated charges, started on Monday, November 29, 2021, and he was sentenced on March 10, 2022.

Why is Jussie Smollett on trial?

In February 2020, a special Cook County grand jury returned a six-count indictment accusing Jussie Smollett of lying to Chicago Police.

It came a year after the same charges had been dropped by authorities as the actor signaled his plans to sue.

Smollett has always maintained his innocence to the new indictment, pleading not guilty.

The charges were reinstituted after a special prosecutor was assigned to look into the entire case - after a judge found “unprecedented irregularities” in how Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx handled the case.

What was the verdict in the Jussie Smollett trial?

FOX News caught up with Smollett moments before entering the courthouse, referring to the proceedings he was about to participate in as a "dog and pony show."

At the time of the alleged beatdown, Smollett told police that two masked men attacked him as he walked home in the early hours of January 29, 2019.

Smollett said the men made racist and homophobic insults, beat him, and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing.

The disgraced actor also insisted that at least one of his attackers was a white man.

However, brothers Abel and Ola Osundario came forward soon after and told police that the actor had paid them $3,500 to jump him on a Chicago street to raise his profile because he was unhappy with his role on Empire.

The two brothers were associated with the FOX series, which is how Smollett was familiar with them.

The actor has denied Abel and Ola's allegations, claiming the brothers are not telling the truth.

On Thursday, December 9, Jussie Smollett was found guilty of five charges of disorderly conduct, all which involves giving false police reports of hate crimes and battery.

How many years does Jussie Smollett face in prison?

When the case first came to light in 2019, it was reported that Smollett could face up to three years in prison if convicted under Illinois law.

On March 10, 2022, Smollett was sentenced 30 months of felony probation and was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago.

He was also sentenced to 150 days in prison for the start of his sentence.

Cops had first raised concerns over the actor's story after he refused to hand over his phone to detectives and took offense to camera recordings during police interviews.

In March 2019, Chicago Police initially announced Smollett had been charged with disorderly conduct after filing a false police report.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter: "Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report.

"Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest."

Guglielmi added: "Jussie Smollet is under arrest and in the custody of detectives."

The actor’s trial on the renewed charges started on November 29, 2021.

Judge James Linn said during an October hearing no cameras will be allowed in court.

On the same day, attorneys for the actor made a final attempt to have the case dismissed but the judge denied the motion.

What did Jussie Smollett say when testifying during his trial?

Smollett took the stand on December 6, and denied staging the attack under oath, one week after brothers Bola and Abimbola Osundairo testified that they were paid to do so.

The Empire actor also testified that a sexual relationship began to form between him and Bola, claiming the brother helped him get drugs, including cocaine.

He went on to say the two "did more drugs and like, made out."

When asked if he gave Abimbola Osundairo money for a hoax, Smollett replied: “Never....there was no hoax.”

He later went on to say that he lost his "livelihood," amid the allegations.

“I am a Black man in America. I do not trust the police,” Smollett continued. “I am also a well-known figure at that time and I am an openly gay man.”

Bola has since denied any sexual relationship with Smollett, who came out as gay during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in March 2015.