The US actor Jussie Smollett, who has been arrested for alleged false statements against the police, has been released on payment of a $ 100,000 bail. The star of the television series „Empire“ was released from custody yesterday afternoon (local time) in Chicago. He faces three years imprisonment for allegedly faking a homophobic and racist attack against himself.
The openly gay African-American had reported at the end of January that he had been attacked in the night in Chicago on the street by two masked and insulted racist and anti-gay.
However, according to the police, the attack was only made: The 36-year-old is said to have paid two men for the fake attack $ 3,500, because he had hoped for his victim role professional advantages. The actor has „exploited the pain and anger over racism to promote his career,“ Chicago police chief Eddie Johnson said in an emotionally charged press conference.
Lawyers: „trampled on“ presumption of innocence
The lawyers of the actor then sharply criticized the police: the press conference had „trampled“ on the presumption of innocence. The police have organized a „spectacle“ that has no place in the US justice system, said lawyer Jack Prior of the news agency AFP. Smollett insists on his innocence and feels „betrayed by a system that seems to skip a fair trial and pass directly to the verdict.“
The alleged attack on Smollett had not only caused indignation in the film industry, but was also quickly condemned by many politicians. He appeared to stand for increasing violence against minorities in the US, for which critics blame President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric
