Actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted by a special prosecutor in Chicago over his January 2019 report that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack, according to multiple news outlets.
Smollett told police last year that two men attacked him while yelling slurs. Chicago police later said they believed he staged the incident, and he was charged with 16 felony counts of filing a false report. Prosecutors dropped those charges about five weeks later, and Smollett agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bond. His attorneys said at the time that his record was wiped clean, and he has said he has been truthful and consistent from day one.
Police and city leaders objected to the decision. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel called it a whitewash of justice, and former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Chicago was still owed an apology. A judge later appointed a special prosecutor to review how the case was handled, and that prosecutor’s grand jury has now returned the new indictment.
Investigators have alleged that Smollett knew the two men, brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, and paid them $3,500 to help stage the attack. Police have said they believe the motive was frustration over his pay on the Fox series Empire. Smollett has denied those claims. The brothers’ attorney, Gloria Schmidt, said they were fully prepared to testify in any criminal proceeding and are willing to cooperate with the investigation.
Fox News also reported that police and the FBI are looking into a threatening letter sent to the Chicago studio where Empire is filmed. The FBI declined to comment, and no one has been charged in connection with the letter.
The indictment is an accusation, and Smollett is presumed innocent. Baller Alert will keep you updated as his attorneys respond.
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