In Chicago, a jury found actor Jussie Smollett guilty of falsely reporting a hate crime. Smollett was arrested in 2019 and accused of lying to the police about suffering a violent homophobic and racist assault. During Smollett’s trial, two brothers who were personal acquaintances of the former “Empire” actor testified he paid them $3,500 for the staged attack and instructed them to place a noose over his neck while shouting lines like “This is MAGA country.” Smollett faces up to three years in prison. He was released on bond, and his lawyers vowed to appeal.