Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty during his arraignment hearing on charges of disorderly conduct stemming from a hate crime hoax in Chicago.
Smollett, 37, pleaded not guilty to six felony counts of disorderly conduct at the Cook County Courthouse on Monday.
Abel Osundairo and Ola Osundairo, the two Nigerian brothers who say Smollett paid them to attack him, also appeared in court with their attorney Gloria Schmidt.
“They are here because they want the truth to be told,” Schmidt told reporters. The brothers will testify at Smollett’s trial.
Smollett lost his job on Fox TV’s Empire after he staged a hate crime and blamed Trump supporters for assaulting him, tying a noose around his neck and pouring bleach on him.
A judge set Smollett’s next hearing for March 18. He faces 30 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
