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The star of the "Empire" was arrested around 5 am, police announced before 1:30 pm. Bail Hearing.
Smollett faces a charge of a misdemeanor for allegedly having been attacked by two men, including a masked man, in the early hours of January 29 in Chicago. He claimed that they had shouted racist and homophobic insults, tied a rope to his neck and spread an unknown substance on him.
At the time, the police had stated that they were treating the attack against the black and gay actor as a hate crime.
But in the weeks following the first alleged attack, the story has cleared up several times, making it a victim to a suspect.
The actor denied having played a role in his attack, according to his lawyers.
"Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys 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, "his lawyers said in a statement.
"In these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and set up an aggressive defense."
Overflow of support raised doubts
For weeks, Smollett maintained his initial statements that he had been attacked.
He received considerable support from celebrities and politicians immediately after reporting the alleged attack. But blame and doubt are growing, with social media users questioning his accusations, especially after the police said they could not find a video of the incident at the site. using surveillance cameras in the area.
Police now think that Smollett paid for two brothers to orchestrate him in the assault, CNN said this week two law enforcement officials aware of the investigation.
On Wednesday, the Chicago police said she was considering the incident as a hoax. The announcement was made the same day that the Cook County Grand Jury convened to review the evidence of the incident.
The video appears to show the brothers who buy items
Although they did not give detailed information on the developments, the January 28th surveillance video obtained from a Chicago area beauty shop seems to show men involved in the incident buying a mask ski, sunglasses, red cap and other objects alleged aggression.
They paid for the items in cash, according to the owner, who did not want to be identified.
The two men interviewed by the police – identified as brothers Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo – were arrested on 13 February but were released without charge after police quoted "new evidence". They met police and prosecutors in a Chicago courthouse, police spokesman Tom Ahern said.
The two men are no longer suspect at the moment, the Chicago police said. The brothers' lawyer, Gloria Schmidt, told reporters Wednesday that her clients had not agreed to a plea agreement or immunity. Police sources said the brothers were cooperating with the police.
"You do not need immunity when you have the truth," she said.
One of the men appeared on "Empire," Guglielmi said. A police source also told CNN that the men had already been affiliated with Smollett, but did not provide additional details.
Smollett is irritated by the allegations, say the lawyers
Smollett played a gay character in Fox TV's "Empire" television series. The actor told the detectives that two men attacked him near the front door of a Loews hotel in Chicago, police spokesman Guglielmi said. Police were told that both men had shouted: "Empire" and "Empire's" while striking him.
In an additional interview with the authorities, Smollett confirmed press reports that one of the attackers had also shouted: "This is the country of MAGA", referring to the slogan of the "Make America Great Again" campaign President Donald Trump.
Todd S. Pugh and Victor P. Henderson, issued a statement Saturday, describing their client as being angry about allegations that he orchestrated the attack.
"As a victim of a hate-motivated crime that collaborated in the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angry and devastated by recent reports that perpetrators are people with whom he is familiar, "the statement said.
"He is again the victim of accusations attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack, nothing is further from the truth, and anyone who claims otherwise is lying."
The letter was sent to & # 39; Empire & # 39; Few days ago
Before the police made his announcement Wednesday, 20th Century Fox Television, which produces the series "Empire", expressed its support to the actor.
"Jussie Smollett continues to be an accomplished professional on set and, as we said before, he has not stepped out of the series," the statement said.
A spokesman for Fox made no comment when CNN reached it on Wednesday.
Seven days before the alleged attack, a letter containing white powder was sent to the entire "Empire" Chicago, police said. Authorities determined that the powder was aspirin, according to Guglielmi.
The image of the letter and envelope, shared with CNN by a person close to Smollett, includes a message apparently cut from magazine clippings and a drawing with a stick figure.
Smollett told ABC News that the drawing was a "stick figure hanging on a tree with a gun pointing at him". The letter, addressed to Smollett, includes the word "MAGA" on the outside of the envelope in place of the return address.
More than a decade ago, Smollett had not disputed the possibility of providing false information to the police in a crime case in 2007, according to Frank Mateljan, spokesman for the city's public prosecutor's office. Los Angeles.
The case stems from a DUI judgment in which Smollett gave the wrong name to the police. He has not pleaded in any way against driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit and driving without a valid driver's license. He was sentenced to two years probation and a fine.
CNN's Ryan Young, Bill Kirkos, Steve Almasy, Joe Sutton, Sandra Gonzalez and Sheena Jones contributed to this report.
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