According to the police, Jussie Smollett paid two men by check to organize an attack; "This pub hit was a scar that Chicago did not win" – CBS Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) – In accusing him of slapping the city, Chicago police announced Thursday that "actor" "Empire" Jussie Smollett had been accused of staging an attack in Chicago. Streeterville because "he was not satisfied with his salary".

"Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career," said the Superintendent of the Chicago Police. Eddie Johnson said at a press conference Thursday morning. "This publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago did not win and certainly did not deserve."

Smollett went to the Chicago police early Thursday morning, hours after he was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly organizing a racist and homophobic attack against himself last month at Streeterville. . Smollett went to the Central District Police Station at 18th Street and in the streets of the state around 5 am, police said. He made no statement to the police.

At a bail hearing on Thursday afternoon, a judge set Smollett's bail at $ 100,000. He would have to give $ 10,000 to be released. He must also return his pbadport. Smollett left the Cook County Jail, surrounded by a security detachment, around 3:45 pm.

Somber and Wan Smollett appeared in front of the crowded Chicago courtroom. Two rows of supporters sat behind Smollett and dozens of media invaded the other side of the courthouse as the judge addressed Smollett harshly, claiming Smollett was presumed innocent, but that, if proven, accusations were "scandalous". was the most surprising part. Smollett's lawyers denied the allegations, claiming that the alleged acts were not compatible with the nature of the actor.

Smollett's lawyers were to discuss the charges after the bail hearing.

His legal team released a statement Thursday night condemning the handling of the case.

"Today, we have seen an organized police show that does not fit into the American legal system. The presumption of innocence, cornerstone of the search for justice, was trampled at the expense of Mr Smollett and especially on the eve of an election by the mayor. Mr. Smollett is a young man of impeccable and honest character who keeps his innocence ferociously and solemnly and feels betrayed by a system that apparently wants to evade due process and go straight to punishment. "

The future of the actor in "Empire" is not clear now that he faces crime charges, but right after his release from prison, Smollett went to Cinespace, the studio where " Empire "and other television shows.

"We are badessing the situation and looking at our options," Fox officials said in a statement.

Meanwhile, TNT has released an episode of "Drop The Mic" starring Smollett. The show features celebrities who fight in roast battles.

Smollett, who is black and openly gay, told police that he was badaulted while returning home around 2 am on January 29th. He claimed that two masked men, one also wearing a red hat, had shouted racist and homophobic slurs, beat him, put him a noose in the neck and pour a chemical on it.

The police said that, in fact, Smollett paid $ 3,500 by check to these two men, Ola and Abel Osundairo, to organize the attack. Charlie De Mar of CBS 2 announced that Smollett had also ordered the brothers to buy the noose in a hardware store and the hat and masks in a downtown store. Johnson said the police had the check.

"I'm left hanging my head and asking why. Why would anyone, especially an African American man, use the symbolism of a noose to launch false accusations? How could anyone look at the hate and suffering badociated with this symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to enhance one's own public profile? Johnson said. "How can an individual who has been adopted by the city of Chicago turn around and slap everyone in this city by making these false statements?"

Police said the two brothers wore gloves during the attack and hit Smollett, but the scratches and bruises on Smollett's face were most likely self-inflicted.

Johnson said that false police reports were causing real harm and that he feared for future victims of true hate crimes.

"What worries me is that hate crimes now collide publicly with a level of skepticism that did not exist before," he said.

Unruly driving is a clbad 4 crime. CBS 2's legal badyst, Irv Miller, says that Smollett could be subject to probation of up to one and a half years in prison.

Smollett's lawyers issued the following statement after he was charged on Wednesday night:

"Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett benefits from the presumption of innocence, especially when there has been an investigation like this where information, both true and false, has been disclosed to the public. many times. In these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and put in place an aggressive defense. "

Ola and Abel Osundairo were arrested last week and released without charge. They left for Nigeria a few hours after the attack and were arrested a few days later upon their return to Chicago.

On Wednesday, they testified before a grand jury. Smollett was later charged with disorderly conduct.

RELATED: Complete coverage of Smollett's history

The two brothers reportedly told the police that Smollett was also behind the drafting of a racist letter sent to the show, according to two sources close to the survey.

At the Smollett-related hearing, prosecutors said the letter was covered with a white powder that turned out to be a crushed ibuprofen tablet.

Johnson confirmed that Smollett was behind this letter, and when he did not get the reaction he wanted, "Smollett paid $ 3,500 to organize this attack and drag Chicago's reputation into the mud."

"This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was unhappy with his salary. So, he concocted a story about being attacked, "added Johnson.

On January 25, Smollett reportedly sent a text message to Abel Osundairo asking when he was going on a future trip to Nigeria. After learning that the trip was scheduled for Jan. 29, Smollett attempted to arrange a face-to-face meeting.

"You may need your help at the lowest level. You meet to talk and talk to each other face to face, "Smollett said, according to prosecutors.

The two men then planned to meet in the afternoon of January 25 and would have gone to Abel's apartment in Lakeview. On his way to the apartment, Smollett allegedly complained about the treatment of the letter by the studio "Empire" and told Abel that he wanted to orchestrate an attack in which Abel and his brother, Ola, seemed to be hit.

Prosecutors said Smollett had later discussed his plans of aggression with the brothers, telling them that he wished that they would approach him near his Streeterville apartment and l & rsquo; Called "Empire f *****" and "Empire n *****." He would also have told them to attack him, but do not hurt him too much and give him a chance to get himself He also told Ola to put the rope around his neck, pour gasoline on him and shout, "This is MAGA country," referring to President Donald Trump's campaign movement "Make America Great Again.

Smollett and the two brothers allegedly carried out the attack two days later, with a change of plan; use bleach instead of gasoline. Smollett would then have given them a check for $ 3,500, backdated to January 23rd.

CBS 2 was the first to get a video showing the brothers buying a red cap and ski masks at a store the night before the badault. The video shows Ola and Abel Osundairo posing masks and a hat on the counter.

The two brothers were arrested on 13 February on their return from a trip to Nigeria. After being questioned by police for nearly two days, they agreed to cooperate against Smollett, prosecutors said.

The brothers' lawyer, Gloria Schmidt, spoke to the media after their testimony before the grand jury for two and a half hours.

"I think the most important thing to know for the American people is that this story has many complications," Schmidt said.

Schmidt says that the brothers do not expect to be charged with any crime "because they are not guilty of anything."

"I think Jussie's conscience is not letting him sleep tonight," Schmidt said. "So he should unburden his conscience and just reveal to the American people what has really happened."

RELATED: Chronology of events in the Jussie Smollett case

Smollett hired a lawyer, a little higher, by recruiting lawyer Mark Geragos.

Brad Edwards of CBS 2 confirms that Geragos will be part of Smollett's defense team, still led by Chicago-based Chicago lawyers Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson.

The list of Geragos customers includes pop star Michael Jackson, actor Winona Ryder, as well as singers Chris Brown and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment issued a brief statement: "We understand the seriousness of this case and respect the judicial process. We evaluate the situation and examine our options. "