CBS News Chicago reports:
Jussie Smollett is now facing deeper legal troubles after a grand jury returned 16 federal counts against the actor for falsely reporting a hate crime attack against him in January.
The grand jury returned the indictment on Thursday. Last month, Smollett was charged with a disorderly conduct count for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack last month in Streeterville.
Smollett, who is black and openly gay, had told police he was attacked as he was walking home around 2 a.m. on Jan. 29. He claimed two masked men – one of them also wearing a red hat – shouted racist and homophobic slurs as they beat him, put a noose around his neck, and poured a chemical on them.
BREAKING: Jussie Smollett Charged with 16 Felony Counts in Falsified Attack https://t.co/GqRYjJcAkg pic.twitter.com/be6gKvYjAo
— The Source Magazine (@TheSource) March 8, 2019
The Jussie Smollett case is not over. A grand jury just returned 16 additional felony counts against the Empire star. And we are still waiting on the Feds to conclude their investigation. https://t.co/SG3w4JNQ4n
— Emily Zanotti (@emzanotti) March 8, 2019