Actor Jussie Smollett boldly strut into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on Tuesday to appear at a hearing to determine whether cameras will be allowed into court during his proceedings on Thursday.
Smollett, 36, was accompanied a small entourage that consisted of his siblings and his legal team, including celebrity attorney Mark Geragos. According to TMZ, his attendance wasn’t required at the hearing today.
“He is choosing to be here. Not required,” tweeted CBS Chicago.
The Empire star wore a long grey overcoat with dark aviator shades. He did not make a statement to reporters.
Smollett told police he was jumped by two Trump supporters who shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him outside his Chicago condo on Jan. 29.
He was arrested on Feb. 20 and charged with one felony count of lying to police when investigators determined he paid 2 brothers to help him stage the fake hate attack.
The disgraced former Empire actor now faces 16 felony charges and a maximum of 64 years in prison for filing a false police report and lying to officers. He was charged with one felony for every lie he told.
According to TMZ, offers for acting and club bookings have dried up for the singer/actor after the indictments. “We’re told Smollett’s getting zero calls for new work, and is being treated like a pariah.”
Smollett still maintains his innocence, despite the preponderance of evidence against him.
