Court Orders Jussie Smollett Release From Jail During Appeal

etcanada.com:

Jussie Smollett was ordered released from jail Wednesday by an appeals court that agreed with his lawyers that he should be released pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.

The ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police.

In an outburst immediately after the sentence was handed down, the former star of the TV show “Empire” proclaimed his innocence and said “I am not suicidal.

And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that.” The appeals court, in a 2-1 decision, said Smollett could be released after posting a personal recognizance bond of $150,000, meaning he doesn’t have to put down money but agrees to come to court as required. READ MORE: Jussie Smollett Sentenced To 150 Days In Jail In Fake Attack Later that day, Smollett shared a video on Instagram in which his attorney, Nenye Uche, reveals Smollett has been released.