And possible obstruction charges, both state and federal, if some of the facts alleged bear out.
Via Daily Wire:
New reports continue to trickle in, and the story keeps growing ever-grimmer for embattled “Empire” star Jussie Smollett. The latest news out of Chicago reported by ABC is that the two Nigerian-American brothers, who have been “fully cooperating” with police after being detained last week, say that not only did Smollett pay them to stage the “racist and homophobic” attack, Smollett sent the infamous threatening letter to himself a couple of weeks earlier. To make matters worse, multiple outlets have confirmed that Smollett was found guilty of providing false information to police involving a DUI back in 2007.
So, if these widely reported claims about Smollett turn out to be true, how serious are the potential charges he would face? Some legal experts have begun to weigh in on the issue.
Speaking with Variety, Chicago-based criminal defense lawyer Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor, suggested that Smollett’s “significant exposure” could end up coming back to haunt him if authorities press charges. “It’s a very, very, very serious situation,” he said.