Jussie Smollett was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report. Smollett claimed that he was attacked by two Trump supporters earlier this month who tied a noose around his neck, poured bleach on him and yelled racial and homophobic epithets towards him. Police later revealed they had "mounting evidence" showing that he set up his own attack and hired the two actor brothers to help him carry it out. After the actor was freed from police custody, his lawyer issued a statement saying that the actor's arrest was an "organized law enforcement spectacle."
Smollett's legal team issued a statement to WGN TV News and NBC News on the actor's behalf claiming the actor was victimized by the system.
“The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett and notably, on the eve of a mayoral election,” the statement reads.
“Mr. Smollett is a young man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence and feels betrayed by a system that apparently wants to skip due process and proceed directly to sentencing.”
Earlier today, it was announced that Smollett's been cut from the remaining episodes of Empire season 5. However, they didn't say whether or not he would be returning for season six.
