Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty
Jussie Smollett plead not guilty in criminal court before Judge Steven Gregory Watkins today. The Empire star returns to court after being accused of... Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty

Jussie Smollett plead not guilty in criminal court before Judge Steven Gregory Watkins today.

The Empire star returns to court after being accused of lying to police about a hate crime that allegedly took place in January.

Smollett was previously indicted with 16 counts of disorderly conduct.

Empire returned from its Winter hiatus Wednesday night. Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyon, features prominently in the premiere episode, but reportedly will be written out by the finale.

Breanne Coulter