Jussie Smollett

"While policing at-large is an irredeemable institution, CPD is notorious for its long and deep history of corruption, racism, and brutality," Melina Abdullah wrote. "Police lie and Chicago police lie especially."

Two very different pictures have been painted on the witness stand throughout the trial. Soon it's up to the jury to decide who is telling the truth.

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.”

Testifying for nearly six hours, Jussie Smollett said he was the victim of a real attack in January 2019, describing it as “out of whack, like a Looney Tunes adventure."

Jussie Smollett will return to the witness stand Tuesday at his trial in Chicago, where the former “Empire” actor called claims that he staged an anti-gay, racist attack on himself “100% false.”

Smollett’s defense team began calling witnesses late Thursday, including his former music manager Brandon Moore, who testified he was on the phone with the actor when the alleged attack occurred and heard someone use a gay slur and then scuffling.

Testimony from brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo closed out the prosecution case against Jussie Smollett on Thursday, the fourth day of the former “Empire” star’s trial for lying to police about a hate crime assault near his downtown apartment.

Explosive moments unfolded in court when one of Smollett's attorneys demanded a mistrial.