April 23, 2020 / By mobanmarket
CHICAGO — Chicago police said “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett — indicted on a felony disorderly conduct charge after telling police last month he was attacked by two men who shouted “This is MAGA country!” — is now in police custody.
The actor turned himself in early Thursday. His claim was initially investigated as a possible hate crime, but police developed evidence that Smollett lied to detectives. A briefing is scheduled at Chicago Police headquarters for 9 a.m. Thursday.
Following grand jury testimony Wednesday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved a charge of disorderly conduct — filing a false police report, a class 4 felony carrying a sentence ranging from probation to three years in prison.
“Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest,” CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
Earlier Wednesday, Fox Entertainment denied claims that suggested Smollett may have staged the attack because he was being written out off the popular show, which stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has also recused herself from the investigation surrounding the reported attack on Smollett “out of an abundance of caution.”
A spokeswoman for Foxx’s office said Tuesday the decision was made “to address potential questions of impartiality based upon familiarity with potential witnesses in the case.”
First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats was assigned to act as the state’s attorney in the investigation.
Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report. Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest. pic.twitter.com/LvBSYE2kVj
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 21, 2019
Police said Smollett claimed he was walking in the 300 block of E. North Water Street at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 29, when the actor said that two men wearing ski masks yelled homophobic and racial slurs and began beating him.
Smollett reported they doused him with a chemical, believed to be bleach, and wrapped a rope around his neck. The actor said the men called out “This is MAGA country” while attacking him.
Nearly two weeks after the attack, Smollett handed over redacted phone records in a PDF to police.
Two brothers who were considered suspects in the attack have been released, and no charges have been laid. Following their release, Guglielmi said Friday evening in a Tweet that “detectives have additional investigative work to complete.”
According to a report by WBBM, sources claim Smollett paid men to attack him after a racist and threatening letter sent to the studio didn’t draw a significant enough response. The letter is now in the FBI crime lab for analysis, WLS reported.
Other reports claimed the attack was staged because Smollett was being written off “Empire;” however, according to a statement obtained by WGN, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment have denied the claim. The producers said the actor “remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him.”
Celebrities such as Cardi B and Snoop Dogg have also been questioning Smollett on social media. In a live stream over the weekend, Cardi B said she’s “really disappointed” in Smollett. Snoop Dogg posted a meme that showed Smollett on the run from police.
Other politicians and celebrities are quietly deleting the tweets of support they sent out right after the attack was reported.
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