Actor Smollett Pleads Not Guilty, Seeks Stay

Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty in a Chicago court on Monday.

Reuters reports this plea is to renewed felony charges from the recent past.

Smollett made false reports to police about being attacked in a hate crime.

He is accused of staging the entire thing in a bid to advance his career.

The new charges emerged after a five-month investigation that overruled the dismissal of the original case.