YEAH! ‘Empire’ Actor Jussie Smollett Charged with Felony for Filing False Police Report
6:55 p.m.
Chicago police say ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett has been charged with felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report when he reported that he was attacked by two masked men.
Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office approved the felony charge on Wednesday afternoon. The charge is a Class 4 felony that carries a possible prison sentence of 1-3 years, but he could also receive probation.
Smollett reported to police that on Jan. 29 two masked men shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him, beat him, threw a chemical substance at him and looped a rope tied like a noose around his neck.
The charges against Smollett were filed after two men who allegedly took part in the scheme testified before a grand jury.
An attorney representing two brothers implicated in the alleged scheme by ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett to file a false police report in what he’s said was an attack by masked men in Chicago last month says the two testified before a grand jury for a total of two and a half hours and that they did take money from Smollett.
Gloria Schmidt told reporters at the Chicago courthouse after Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo appeared before the grand jury on Wednesday that the two did not testify as part of any plea deal with prosecutors and said that the two were not granted any immunity from prosecution.
She said there was a point where the account of the men needed to be told and that they “manned up and said, ‘We’re gonna correct this.’”
The testimony came after the brothers were released from custody by police who said they were no longer suspects. Their testimony came the same day that police department said that Smollett is now considered a suspect for “filing a false police report” and that the case has been referred to a grand jury.
A spokeswoman says Chicago’s top prosecutor recused herself from the Jussie Smollett investigation because she had had conversations with one of the “Empire” actor’s family members and “facilitated a connection” with the police department.
Tandra Simonton said Wednesday that Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the case last week “out of an abundance of caution.” The move was announced Tuesday.
Foxx’s first assistant, Joe Magats, is overseeing the case.
A police official says Smollett is suspected of lying about the attack and that detectives were presenting evidence to a grand jury Wednesday afternoon.
Smollett has repeatedly stood by his account. The black and gay actor told police that two masked men attacked him early on Jan. 29 and hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him.
Smollett’s lawyers didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment on Wednesday.
https://www.westernjournal.com/empire-actor-j...rn-journal
6:55 p.m.
Chicago police say ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett has been charged with felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report when he reported that he was attacked by two masked men.
Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office approved the felony charge on Wednesday afternoon. The charge is a Class 4 felony that carries a possible prison sentence of 1-3 years, but he could also receive probation.
Smollett reported to police that on Jan. 29 two masked men shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him, beat him, threw a chemical substance at him and looped a rope tied like a noose around his neck.
The charges against Smollett were filed after two men who allegedly took part in the scheme testified before a grand jury.
An attorney representing two brothers implicated in the alleged scheme by ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett to file a false police report in what he’s said was an attack by masked men in Chicago last month says the two testified before a grand jury for a total of two and a half hours and that they did take money from Smollett.
Gloria Schmidt told reporters at the Chicago courthouse after Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo appeared before the grand jury on Wednesday that the two did not testify as part of any plea deal with prosecutors and said that the two were not granted any immunity from prosecution.
She said there was a point where the account of the men needed to be told and that they “manned up and said, ‘We’re gonna correct this.’”
The testimony came after the brothers were released from custody by police who said they were no longer suspects. Their testimony came the same day that police department said that Smollett is now considered a suspect for “filing a false police report” and that the case has been referred to a grand jury.
A spokeswoman says Chicago’s top prosecutor recused herself from the Jussie Smollett investigation because she had had conversations with one of the “Empire” actor’s family members and “facilitated a connection” with the police department.
Tandra Simonton said Wednesday that Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the case last week “out of an abundance of caution.” The move was announced Tuesday.
Foxx’s first assistant, Joe Magats, is overseeing the case.
A police official says Smollett is suspected of lying about the attack and that detectives were presenting evidence to a grand jury Wednesday afternoon.
Smollett has repeatedly stood by his account. The black and gay actor told police that two masked men attacked him early on Jan. 29 and hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him.
Smollett’s lawyers didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment on Wednesday.
https://www.westernjournal.com/empire-actor-j...rn-journal
