Jussie Smollett’s lawyers asked a Chicago judge Friday to toss out his conviction for staging a hate crime — or grant him a new trial — claiming that his constitutional rights wer…
— or grant him a new trial — claiming that his constitutional rights were violated by the court during the jury selection process.during the trial, which they claimed was “a lightning rod for the political divisions plaguing the country,” according to a filing obtained by The Post.in December of lying to police when he told cops that admirers of former President Trump had beat him up for being black and gay.
In their motion Friday, Smollett’s attorneys argued that his right to a public trial was violated because the amount of spectators and members of the press were limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. “In fact, prior to and during the trial Mr. Smollett had become a lightning rod for the political divisions plaguing the country currently.”
One witness’ testimony should have been thrown out because he said he felt “pressured and threatened” by prosecutors to change his story, Lewis wrote.