Illinois appeals court hears arguments on Jussie Smollett request to toss convictions

By MICHAEL TARM
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett’s lawyers have told an Illinois appellate court that it should toss the former “Empire” actor’s  convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police. During oral arguments Tuesday, Smollett’s legal team argued that anger in the city over the allegations led to properly dismissed charges being improperly restored. If the appeal fails, the actor will have to finish a 150-day stint in jail that his trial judge ordered during Smollett’s 2022 sentencing. A ruling is expected to take several weeks. Among the arguments in Smollett’s appeal is that his 2021 trial violated Fifth Amendment protections against being punished for the same crime twice.