Jussie Smollett taking the stand could be a double-edged sword in alleged hate crime hoax case, attorneys say
Fox News
The trial of Jussie Smollett kicks off on Monday, nearly three years after the 39-year-old actor allegedly orchestrated a hate crime against himself, telling police that two White men in MAGA hats attacked him, shouted slurs, and put a noose around his neck.
The case has polarized the nation due to the politically- and racially-charged nature of the alleged hoax, and Americans nationwide will be watching intently to see if Smollett defends himself by taking the witness stand, a move that defense attorneys and prosecutors tell Fox News could make or break the case.
Mark Eiglarsh, a criminal defense attorney with more than 150 trials under his belt, said that he normally does not advise his clients to testify, but it might be necessary for Smollett, a Black gay man, to testify in this case.
"I think this is one of those rare cases where he might have to take the witness stand. He's an actor, so he has an advantage over almost anyone who is going to take the witness stand. He knows how to portray characters, so he'd be playing the role potentially of a person who has been victimized by the prosecution repeatedly, and someone who has suffered a vicious attack," Eiglarsh told Fox News Digital.