US actor Jussie Smollett to be freed from jail pending appeal

Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail (Cook County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

US actor Jussie Smollett is to be released from jail after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be freed pending the appeal against his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.

The ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police.