Chicago, Ill. — The prosecution and defense provided opening statements Monday night in the criminal case against Jussie Smollett, the former star of the television show Empire who is accused of staging a racist and anti-gay hate crime against himself nearly three years ago.
For such a high-profile case, the criminal stakes for Smollett are pretty low. The 39-year-old actor and musician faces six low-level disorderly conduct charges. If he’s found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to three years behind bars, but he could also receive probation and community service. Smollett has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and …
