CHICAGO (AP) – A judge has set a $100,000 bond for “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who is accused of staging an attack against himself in downtown Chicago last month.
The 36-year-old actor said little other than giving his name at the beginning of Thursday’s hearing.
Smollett’s attorney asked Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. to release Smollett on his own recognizance. However, the judge said that would be inappropriate.
Police allege that Smollett hired two brothers to help stage an attack on him late last month in downtown Chicago. He told police that two masked men beat him and hurled racist and homophobic slurs during the attack.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel says hate crimes will never be tolerated in Chicago and charges accusing “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett of paying two men to stage an attack on him “will never trump Chicago’s collective spirit.”
Emanuel issued a statement Thursday after Chicago police detailed their case against the black and gay actor, who is accused of staging a bigoted attack against him last month. Police say he did it to “promote his career” and because he was unhappy with his salary.
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