Trial of Jussie Smollett, accused of lying to police about an alleged hate crime, begins Monday with jury selection
CNN
The actor Jussie Smollett has denied for more than two years he lied about being the victim of a hate crime. Starting Monday, he and his lawyers will fight the accusations at trial.
The former "Empire" actor, who is Black and gay, has repeatedly denied staging an attack on himself, insisting two men struck him, yelled anti-gay and racist remarks, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him on a cold January 2019 night in the Windy City.
Authorities have argued that evidence, including texts and accounts from two Smollett acquaintances, point to Smollett paying the pair to rough him up so he could attract publicity and a career boost -- a narrative Smollett has denied.
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