Jussie Smollett released on bond after 6 days in jail

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Jussie Smollett released on bond after 6 days in jail

This booking photo provided by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Jussie Smollett. A judge sentenced Jussie Smollett to 150 days in jail Thursday, March 10, 2022, branding the Black and gay actor a charlatan for staging a hate crime against himself while the nation struggled with wrenching issues of racial injustice. (Cook County Sheriff's Office via AP)

OAN Newsroom

UPDATED 8:08 AM PT – Thursday, March 17, 2022

Disgraced actor Jussie Wmollett was released from an Illinois jail after lawyers claimed he was in physical danger. On Wednesday, the Empire star left the Cook County Jail after serving just six days and posting a $150,000 bond.

A panel of three appellate judges ordered the release of Smollett on bond, but only while his lawyers appeal his conviction. The decision came after Smollett's lawyers demanded his release while claiming inmates were yelling homophobic and racist slurs at the actor.

Smollett lawyer Nenye Uche alleged his client had already been fined for his charges and was being unconstitutionally punished twice.

"His $10,000 fine hasn't even been returned to him, right?" asked Uche. "And then you reindict the case and you give him 30-months probation for a Class 4 felony with a man with no criminal record, felony record. Thirty-months probation, you give him 150 days in jail. You give him what else? You make him do restitution of$120,000."

The lawyer then claimed Smollett was the victim of a racist court system that sought to unfairly incarcerate black men. He also blasted the Judge James Linn for grand standing during sentencing and expressed hopes that the appellate hearing would yield better results for his client.

"I've never seen that and I thought it was unprofessional, that's my personal opinion," Uche continued. "Not happy with that, and we look forward now that this case is gone to the appellate court to actually have finally an intellectual conversation about the constitutionality of this case and not playing politics."

Some legal experts disagree with Uche's claim of double jeopardy as Smollett never submitted a plea when he paid his initial $10,000 fine to the state of Illinois.

Smolett was convicted of lying to authorities about a staged hate crime committed against him. His release was quick to spark backlash with special prosecutor Dan Webb asserting there was "no emergency that warrants" the judge's decision.

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