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Actor "Empire" Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Thursday in an audience in Chicago on 16 charges related to an alleged hoax hate crime.
Smollett's lawyer, Tina Glandian, pleaded her case on behalf of Smollett just hours after Justice Steven Watkins was charged with the high-profile case. The next hearing was scheduled for April 17.
Smollett was initially charged with a lying head to the authorities on February 20. Last week, a grand jury charged him with 16 counts of lying to the authorities, or eight counts of charges he told to the officer in charge. responded to the act. and eight of what he later told a detective about the fact that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic beating by two masked men in downtown Chicago in January.
The alleged attack of the Chicago attack against Jussie Smoltelet: a calendar of events
Empire actor Jussie Smollett, in the center, arrives at the Leighton courthouse for his hearing on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Chicago.
(AP)
Police said that Smollett, who is black and gay, had organized the January 29 incident because he was unhappy with his salary on the Fox show and that he wanted to promote his career.
Smollett's lawyer, Mark Geragos, called the charges "over-exploitation of lawsuits" in a statement last week.
The 36-year-old actor, who is free of a $ 100,000 bail, vehemently denied the charges.
TERRENCE HOWARD OF THE EMPIRE SMOLLETT'S BREAST THE SILENCE, DOUBLE ON THE SUPPORT
A week before the alleged attack, Smollett told authorities that he had received a threatening letter to work. The Chicago police rebuffed and accused Smollett of having simulated the letter.
Federal authorities are conducting a separate investigation into this letter.
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Terrance Howard, Smollett's father "Empire", was Thursday at the courthouse to show his support for his television son. Two weeks ago, while other actors were distancing themselves from Smollett, Howard attacked social media users furiously. He also shared a video on Instagram of Smollett playing with his son, Hero, in a private plane.
Fox Finn & Matt Finn contributed to this report.
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