In a renewed effort to clear his name, Empire actor Jussie Smollett has filed an appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court, seeking to overturn his conviction for staging a hate crime attack on himself and filing a false police report. Smollett argues that he should have never been prosecuted in the first place, citing a deal made by prosecutors to dismiss the initial indictment.

According to legal documents filed by Smollett's attorneys, the actor claims that in December 2021, a deal was reached with prosecutors in which he agreed to perform community service and forfeit his bond in exchange for dropping the charges against him. However, despite the alleged agreement, Smollett was ultimately charged with felony disorderly conduct.

This latest appeal to the state's highest court comes after Smollett's previous appeal was denied by the Appellate Court of Cook County. If the Supreme Court also denies his appeal, Smollett may be required to complete the remainder of his sentence, which includes 150 days in jail, 30 months of felony probation, $120,106 in restitution to the City of Chicago, and a $25,000 fine.

During the original trial, it was revealed that Smollett had hired Nigerian brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo to stage the attack. The brothers testified that Smollett had orchestrated the hoax in order to boost his celebrity profile. After just three days of investigation, Chicago police concluded that Smollett's hate crime claims were false, and video evidence from numerous sources corroborated the brothers' testimonies.

In the aftermath of the trial, Smollett's attorneys argued in their filing with the Illinois Supreme Court that the case had been clouded by political and public outrage, making it more complicated than it should have been. The actor himself shouted his innocence in the courtroom during the sentencing hearing, emphasizing that if he were to die in custody, it would not be by his own hands.

Smollett's appeal also highlighted his claims that he and the Osundairo brothers were actually rehearsing the attack by smoking marijuana together, contradicting the prosecutors' contention that the rehearsals were part of the plan to carry out the hoax.

The Illinois Supreme Court will now review Smollett's appeal and determine whether to overturn his conviction. The case has garnered national attention, drawing controversy and debate along the way. As the legal battle continues, the outcome remains uncertain, leaving Smollett's future in the balance.