National

Actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months probation on Thursday for making a false report to Chicago police that he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019.

The big picture: The former "Empire" star, who is Black and gay, told police two men attacked him in what he described as a hate crime. He was convicted last December on five counts of lying to police but has maintained he was telling the truth.

Chicago

Chicago Alerts

Alert

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng and Justin Kaufmann.

Axios Chicago

Standard

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng and Justin Kauffman.

Axios Chicago Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

blue

A guide to fun things to do in Chicago this weekend.

Axios Chicago Weekender

Weekender

Chicago Members

Membership

Actor Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police

He was convicted last December, but has maintained he was telling the truth about a hate crime attack.

 Actor Jussie Smollett appears at his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 10, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. 

Actor Jussie Smollett appears at his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on Thursday. Photo: Brian Cassella-Pool/Getty Images

Jussie Smollett

Actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months probation on Thursday for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="making a false report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/chicag-police-track-jussie-smollett-coconspirators-citywide-surveillance-04dd73d5-2866-4589-8ae8-346c07d0c48c.html" data-vars-content-id="a7442e6e-58c2-45f5-ac6d-fa21e6c8b405" data-vars-headline="Actor Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/chicag-police-track-jussie-smollett-coconspirators-citywide-surveillance-04dd73d5-2866-4589-8ae8-346c07d0c48c.html" target="_self">making a false report</a> to Chicago police that he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019.The big picture: The former &quot;Empire&quot; star, who is Black and gay,<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" told police two men attacked" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/timeline-jussie-smollett-case-390cb1fb-656c-4b28-9355-aed15d755ea0.html" data-vars-content-id="a7442e6e-58c2-45f5-ac6d-fa21e6c8b405" data-vars-headline="Actor Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/timeline-jussie-smollett-case-390cb1fb-656c-4b28-9355-aed15d755ea0.html" target="_self"> told police two men attacked</a> him in what he described as a hate crime. He <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="was convicted last December" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/jussie-smollett-guilty-staging-attack-verdict-appeal-da6e0bef-a37a-4401-8943-e83c103dd77b.html" data-vars-content-id="a7442e6e-58c2-45f5-ac6d-fa21e6c8b405" data-vars-headline="Actor Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/jussie-smollett-guilty-staging-attack-verdict-appeal-da6e0bef-a37a-4401-8943-e83c103dd77b.html" target="_self">was convicted last December</a> on five counts of lying to police but has maintained he was telling the truth.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Actor Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police

Go deeper