Jussie Smollett’s conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned

The Illinois Supreme Court did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial that Mr. Smollett orchestrated a fake hate crime and reported it to the Chicago Police Department as a real hate crime, or the jury’s unanimous verdict that Mr. Smollett was guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct,

Webb said

Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.

President Trump led the backlash as he decried the charges being dropped as an 'embarrassment to the nation', while Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson, who is Black, said at the time

My office spent nearly two years developing evidence and working closely with the Chicago Police Department to prepare that case for trial

Webb continued in his response to the overturning

Today’s ruling does not change how deeply proud I am of the work my Special Prosecutor’s office accomplished

Webb concluded

Jussie Smollettactor

This was not a prosecution based on facts, rather it was a vindictive persecution and such a proceeding has no place in our criminal justice system,

Smollett’s attorney, Nenye Uche, said in a statement

Jussie Smollettactor

We are disappointed in the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn Jussie Smollett’s convictions and sentence, including the award of over $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago for its overtime expenses in investigating Mr. Smollett’s fake hate crime,

Webb said in a statement Thursday after Smollett’s conviction was reversed

The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words.” ... I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level.”

In the days after the incident, in early February, he released a statement ... He added

The thing that really gets me is the fact that there are black and brown women and men behind bars for things they did not do,

he said

We hold that a second prosecution under these circumstances is a due process violation, and we therefore reverse defendant's conviction,

Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in the opinion

Make no mistake - today's ruling has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett's innocence,

Webb said

Al Sharptonreverend

The reported hate attack on my friend and brother, actor Jussie Smollett is despicable and outrageous

Reverend Al Sharpton added

Bernie Sanderssenator

The racist and homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett is a horrific instance of the surging hostility toward minorities around the country

Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter

Kamala Harrissenator

Jussie Smollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know

Then-senator Kamala Harris wrote on X

We end up tussling by the stairs, fighting, fighting, fighting...and then it just stopped

the actor told Good Morning America

We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and believed it to be unjust,

Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in the 5-0 decision

Jussie Smollettactor

We are thankful to the Illinois Supreme Court for restoring order to Illinois’ criminal law jurisprudence.”

In a statement on Friday, Nenye Uche, a lawyer for Mr. Smollett who led his defense at trial, said