Wikipedia -On January 22, 2019, Smollett received a threatening letter which depicted a stick figure hanging from a tree with a gun pointing towards it. It read "Smollett, Jussie you will die" and "MAGA" and contained a white powder determined to be Tylenol. On January 29, 2019, Smollett said that he was attacked in the early morning of that day in the 300 block of East Lower North Water Street in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood, in what was initially investigated as a hate crime.] The Chicago Police later determined Smollett orchestrated the attack.
Smollett told police that he was attacked outside his apartment building by two men in ski masks who called him racial and homophobic slurs, and said "This is MAGA country," referencing President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again" and used their hands, feet, and teeth as weapons in the assault. According to a statement released by the Chicago Police Department, the two suspects then "poured an unknown liquid" on Smollett and put a noose around his neck. Smollett said that he fought them off. Smollett was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; not seriously injured, he was released "in good condition" later that morning. The police were called after 2:30 AM; when they arrived around 2:40 AM, Smollett had a white rope around his neck. Smollett said that the attack may have been motivated by his criticism of the Trump administration and that he believed that the alleged assault was linked to the threatening letter that was sent to him earlier that month.
On January 30, 2019, public figures expressed support for Smollett on social media.[43][53] Entertainment industry figures, including Shonda Rhimes and Viola Davis, tweeted their outrage over the attack and support for Smollett.[53] Democratic senators and presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Cory Booker both described the attack as an attempted modern-day lynching.[54] Booker urged Congress to pass a federal Anti-Lynching bill co-sponsored by him and Harris.[53][55] In an interview with April Ryan of AURN, President Trump was asked about Smollett being attacked and said, "I think that's horrible. It doesn't get worse."[56] Smollett faced skepticism regarding his claim of being attacked;[57] he responded by saying that he believed that, if he had said his attackers were Mexicans, Muslims, or black people, "the doubters would have supported me much more ... And that says a lot about the place that we are in our country right now."[57] Investigation
On February 13, Chicago police raided the home of two "persons of interest" in the case. The men are brothers, of Nigerian descent, who have acted as extras on Empire. Police recovered bleach and other items from the home.[58] The brothers were held in police custody on suspicion of battery but were not charged.[59] According to the brothers' attorney, they know Smollett from working on the show, and have also spent time with him at a gym.[59] The two men were released February 15 without being charged with a crime,[60][61] with Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stating their release was "due to new evidence" from the interrogations.[60]
The Chicago Police Department later told ABC News: "Police are investigating whether the two individuals committed the attack—or whether the attack happened at all."[62] On February 16, two unnamed Chicago police sources informed CNN that Chicago police had discovered evidence indicating that Smollett had paid the two brothers $3,500 to stage the attack.[63][64] Financial records indicate that the brothers purchased the rope found around Smollett's neck at a hardware store in Ravenswood over the weekend of January 25.[65][66] They were also caught on camera in a clothing store where they bought gloves, ski masks and a red hat, that the police says was used in the attack. The brothers asked specifically for a MAGA hat, which the store doesn't sell.[67] Chicago Police have reached out to Smollett's attorney regarding additional questioning.[59]
The FBI is investigating whether Smollett was involved in the threatening letter that was sent to him the week before the incident.[40]
On February 19, 2019, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced that she had recused herself from the investigation, due to her "familiarity with potential witnesses in the case", a move that prompted criticism from her predecessor, Anita Alvarez.[68][69]
Smollett has hired crisis manager Chris Bastardi to represent him.[70] Criminal charges and arrest Smollett's mugshot from his February 2019 arrest
On February 20, 2019, Smollett was charged with a class 4 felony for filing a false police report.[71][72][73] Smollett’s felony count charge in Illinois carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.[71] Smollett has hired attorney Mark Geragos in addition to Chicago-based attorneys Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson to work on his legal defense.[74]
The next day, Smollett surrendered himself at the Chicago Police Department's Central Booking station.[75] Shortly thereafter, CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated that Smollett "is under arrest and in the custody of detectives".[76] Guglielmi also said that Smollett was named as suspect in a criminal investigation for filing a fake police report, under a class 4 felony.[77][78]
Later that day, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson held a press conference on the hoax, gave details of the investigation, and explained how the department concluded that the alleged assault was staged.[13] Chicago PD believe that Smollett staged the hoax attack as a publicity stunt meant to further his career, as he was not satisfied with his salary.[13][79] The brothers who say they helped stage the attack said that Smollett had the idea to fake the crime after the threatening letter he received did not receive as much attention as he wanted it to.[80] Police alleged that the actor intended to further his career by tying the incident to racism in the United States and President Trump, and that Smollett sent himself the threatening letter.[13]
Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. set Smollett's bail at $100,000; a friend of the actor paid a $10,000 bond, and Smollett was released from custody on February 21.[81][82][83] Smollett was required to surrender his passport.[84]
On March 8, Smollett was indicted on 16 felony counts of "false report of offense" related to the incident.[85][86][87][88] On March 14, 2019, Smollett and his legal team entered a not guilty plea at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago.[89][90][91] Reaction after arrest
Smollett's character was subsequently removed from the final two episodes of Empire's fifth season. Those episodes had not yet been aired.[92] Smollett claims he has an untreated drug problem—his use of ecstasy. He also said he does not have issues with alcohol or his mental health.[93][94] Reaction after arraignment
Following Smollett's arraignment, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson held a press conference in which he spoke about Smollett, asking, "Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations? How can an individual who’s been embraced by the city of Chicago turn around and slap everyone in the city in the face with these false claims?" He further called the accusations "a scar" that "Chicago...didn't earn."[95]
During a public statement, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said, "Allegations against Mr. Smollett are shameful and if proven, they are an affront to the people of Chicago who embraced him as a neighbor and respected him as a role model... We stand behind the work of our detectives."[96]
It was reported that a former Obama era aide, a Chicago attorney, Tina Tchen, who served as former first lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff and others, were contacted to try to convince them to "Reach out to FBI to ask that they take over the investigation" in lieu of the Chicago Police Department, which was agreed upon. A Smollett family member responded, "Omg this would be a huge victory." In text messages, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx told an unknown person who contacted her through Tchen, that she "spoke to the superintendent" and was "trying to figure out logistics."
On March 26, 2019, all charges filed against Smollett were dropped and expunged from the criminal records. The court kept his $10,000 bail.
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