Jussie Smollett 'a real victim' of attack in Chicago, lawyer argues

Jussie Smollett “is a real victim” of a “real crime,” his attorney said in opening statements at the ex-"Empire" actor's trial Monday, rejecting prosecutors’ allegation that he staged a homophobic and racist attack in Chicago after the television studio where he worked didn’t take hate mail he had received seriously.

"Jussie Smollett is a real victim," Uche said.

Special prosecutor Dan Webb said the actor recruited the brothers to help him carry out a fake attack, then reported it to Chicago police, who classified it as a hate crime and spent 3,000 staff hours on the investigation. Smollett said he was attacked by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, a report that ignited political and ideological divisions around the country.