Smollett in town ahead of hush-hush meeting between lawyers, judge

The actor was given a new court date in the case alleging he faked a hate crime against himself.

By Michael Sneed

Flanked by attorneys and supporters, former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett walks out of the Leighton Criminal Courthouse after pleading not guilty to a new, six-count indictment charging him with falsely reporting he was the victim of a hate-crime attack near his Streeterville apartment in January 2019, Monday morning, Feb. 24, 2020.

The Smollett saga . . .

In the latest chapter of his alleged homophobic racial assault case, former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett hit town Thursday in advance of a hush-hush meeting.

That meeting Friday was between his lawyers, including attorney William Quinlan, and special prosecutor Dan Webb in the private chambers of Cook County Judge James Linn.

Linn is the judge that is hearing the new case against Smollett on charges he faked a hate crime against himself.

What was discussed at the meeting isn’t known, but the parties did agree to move his next court date to April 20.

Smollett wasn’t present for the meeting in the judge’s chambers.

But he was spotted dining in the Loop with Quinlan on Thursday night.

The R. Kelly case . . .

A source tells Sneed singer R. Kelly, 53, who pleaded not guilty to an updated federal indictment Thursday loaded with child porn charges, is “healing” from his recent hernia and stomach surgery since his incarceration at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, “but he is losing weight.”

Melania my, my . . .

Well, do tell: First Lady Melania Trump only follows SEVEN people on her @FLOTUS Twitter account and it includes only one politico besides her hubby and veep Mike Pence: former President Barack Obama!

Surprisingly, Melania does NOT follow former first lady Michelle Obama on Twitter — but Michelle follows her!

The numbers game . . .

Barack Obama continues to beat the Trumpster in the twittersphere.

To wit: President Donald Trump’s @realDonaldTrump Twitter account has 73.4 million followers while Obama clocks in with 113.4 million Twitter users following him.

Tee hee?

Sneedless to say, no matter what political criticism lands on Bernie Sanders’ lapel, one shot won’t land anywhere near him: He would not be accused of wasting weekend time on the golf course.

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