Defense Rests At Jussie Smollett's Trial

Tuesday the "Empire" actor finished a second day of testimony at the Chicago courthouse on charges he lied to police about the January 2019 attack.

Jussie Smollett on Tuesday repeatedly denied he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself for publicity, telling a prosecutor as the trial neared its end that "there was no hoax on my part" and that two brothers who testified against him are "liars."

Lawyers for the former "Empire" actor rested their case shortly after Smollett finished a second day of testimony at the Chicago courthouse on charges he lied to police about the January 2019 attack. Prosecutors said they had no other witnesses to call, and Judge James Linn scheduled closing arguments for Wednesday.

On Monday, Smollett called the Osundairo brothers' testimony that he paid them $3,500 to carry out the fake attack "100% false," and described how he was the victim of a hate crime while walking in his downtown Chicago neighborhood. He also testified that the $3,500 check to Abimbola Osundairo was for meal and workout plans because he was trying to get toned for an upcoming music video.