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Eric Anderson recently spoke with Fox News about the legal implications of Jussie Smollett appealing his hate crime hoax conviction and what the potential outcome could be. In 2019, the “Empire” actor reported to the Chicago police that he was physically and verbally attacked in a racist and homophobic hate crime outside of his apartment by two men in ski masks. A police investigation later detailed that Smollett paid two acquaintances to stage the assault. 

In 2021, the jury found Smollett guilty of his hate crime hoax and he was sentenced to serve 150 days in county jail, put on a two-and-a-half-year probation, and ordered to pay a restitution fee of over $100,000 to the city of Chicago. In February of 2024, Jussie Smollett filed a petition to appeal the conviction.

When considering Smollet’s decision to appeal the conviction, Eric shares, “If you have the resources to fight a conviction, then you should use those resources.” He continues on to note, “One of the problems with our justice system is that the ability to challenge hinges on either the wealth or access to wealth of a defendant or the goodwill of those willing to do the work at reduced or no costs to the defendant.” 

Later in the article, Eric speculates that there is a 50/50 chance of the conviction being overturned, and the decision will hinge on the arguments behind the appeal. 

Jussie Smollett Appealing Hate Crime Hoax Conviction – Fox News