Jussie Smollett trial begins after multi year delay

After a more than two-year delay, the trial of Jussie Smollett is set to begin.

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In January 2019, Smollett claimed that two men had assaulted him in Chicago. He had said that they yelled racist and homophobic statements at him. He also said the men had hit him and tied a noose around his neck, The Wall Street Journal reported.

But days later, investigators said the actor had made up the alleged attack and now he is the one facing charges of disorderly conduct for making false reports to police.

Police said Smollett knew the two men before the attack, and one of them had appeared on the actor’s television show “Empire.”

The men, Abimbola Osundario and his brother Olabinjo Osundario, said Smollett paid them $3,500 for the alleged attack, The Associated Press reported.

Smollett said the money was paid for one of them to be his personal trainer.

The Osundario brothers are expected to testify but it is not known if Smollett will take the stand, the AP reported.

Smollett’s trial had been delayed after the charges were dropped then refiled.

Kim Foxx, the Cook County state’s attorney, was also investigated for how she handled the allegations that Smollett made at the time, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The COVID-19 pandemic also delayed the proceedings.

The trial will be by jury with the selection of the jurors expected to be made within days.

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