Photo Credit: Jussie Smollett/Instagram
Jussie Smollett’s been hiding out in a hotel the last few weeks unable to go out because of the media. He might want to step out a bit and get some air because if recent news about his case is any indication of his future, he won’t be getting outside to enjoy fresh air for some time. This afternoon he was just indicted on 16 felony counts by a grand jury. This is on top of the one felony charge of disorderly conduct he was arrested for last month and released on $100,000 bail.
As for the whopping 16 felony charges he now has, they’re two sets of charges the grand jury came up with. The first set are related to things he told officers and the second set has to do with his second interview with police later that day. And each of these charges can result in probation to 4 years each. You may remember we reported earlier he could be facing 20+ years as some legal analysts have pointed out, depending on how harsh a judge wants to be towards him.
This isn’t the end of his charges because the letter containing white powder sent to the Fox studio he works in is currently in an FBI crime lab for analysis. This could lead to more federal charges. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says he initally faked the letter sent with cut out letters using racist and homophobic language to boost his career for a pay raise and when that didn’t work he then paid the two Nigerian brothers Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo (by check) to attack him.
Celebrities have been coming out in support of Smollett ranging from Vivica Fox who yesterday said on the show Face the Truth yesterday that she’s known him since he was a child and never known him to be deceitful. Queen Latifah said until there is hard evidence showing that he did something, she’s on his side. Terrence Howard said it isn’t up to him to judge him and stated that same that he would be on his side.
The new season of Empire returns on next Wednesday and Smollett’s next court date for the original felony in Chicago will be the next day.
