Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Monday to restored charges that accuse him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year in Chicago and falsely reporting to police that the phony attack was real.

His lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf to six counts of felony disorderly conduct. She also told Judge James B. Linn that she has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to halt the case.

A somber looking Smollett, 37, entered the Cook County courthouse wearing sunglasses and sporting a beard, flanked by his legal team and surrounded by reporters.

“He’s obviously frustrated to be dragged through this process again,” Glandian told reporters after the hearing.

She called the revived prosecution “an ordeal” for Smollett and said he has the support of relatives, some of whom flew out from California to be with him.

“He’s strong, he’s resilient, he’ll get through this, but he’s frustrated,” she added.

Smollett pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of the charge in the same courthouse last year, just weeks before the Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office abruptly announced it was dismissing the case, angering police and City Hall.

Smollett’s attorneys also have filed a motion in Cook County court arguing that the refiling of charges violated protections against being charged twice for the same crime, known as double jeopardy.

Prosecutors have said double jeopardy does not apply because Smollett was not prosecuted last year.

Linn on Monday set a $20,000 personal recognizance bond, which means Smollett does not have to pay any of it. He was not taken into custody. His next court date is March 18......

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Poster Comment:

Note that the entire piece is from a pro-Smollett and Smollettocentric stance. The cartel media actually want trash like Jussie baby to dominate society and vainly imagine their money will protect them from all the trouble they're inflicting on the white untermenschen.

Remember please, if you should have occasion to say 'Smollett', the accent is properly on the 1st syllable regardless of how his family of lowlifes says it. I don't go along with the iambic pronunciation of 'Gannett' either. >:-