CHICAGO _ Jussie Smollett has been granted permission to leave Illinois while he awaits trial on charges that he staged an attack on himself, then lied to police about being the victim of a hate crime.
A Cook County judge on Monday allowed the "Empire" actor to travel to New York and California to meet with his attorneys, according to a spokeswoman for his legal team. Smollett's lead lawyer, Mark Geragos, is based in Los Angeles.
It is common for people out on bond to be prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction without special permission. Smollett has been ordered to turn over his passport and cannot have contact with witnesses or their families.
Smollett was charged last week with felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report when he told Chicago police that two men shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him, hit him and wrapped a rope around his neck while yelling, "This is MAGA country!"
Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. ordered Smollett held on $100,000 bond. Hours later, a friend posted the necessary $10,000 to get Smollett out of jail, records show.
Smollett is due back in court March 14.
