Blogger Eric Zorn: Without an apology, Foxx and Smollett can't hope to put case behind them

Jussie Smollett can restore his name and reputation only by seeking forgiveness and allowing time's eraser to do its work.

A reversal of the actor's conviction on appeal - the prospect of which sprung him at least temporarily from Cook County Jail Wednesday after he spent less than a week behind bars - won't vindicate him in the court of public opinion.

If, down the line, his conviction is overturned and the case against him dismissed, most of us will remain convinced that he's a narcissistic charlatan, a bad actor in every way.

For good reason! The lie Smollett told police, the public and then jurors - that he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack three years ago in the Streeterville neighborhood - was so clumsy and transparent that no reversal on a technicality can ever transform it into the truth.

His endgame strategy before last week's sentencing hearing ought to have been this: Come clean and apologize, perhaps while blaming drug use, stress or an uncharacteristic lapse in judgment. Hope that an expression of contrition moves the judge to issue a sentence of probation. Then, humbly, take the first steps down the road to professional rehabilitation.

Instead he chose to remain silent when given the chance to address trial Judge James Linn during the formal part of the sentencing.

• For his thoughts on prosecutor Kim Foxx and the Jussie Smollett case, check the full article on Eric's newsletter The Picayune Sentinel at https://ericzorn.substack.com.