Jussie Smollett Goes From Victim To Accused Liar
Chicago police have announced that US actor Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report.
In January the openly gay actor went to police with the allegation he was attacked by two white men.
He told police the men wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hats recognised him from the TV show Empire then proceeded to physically attack him, poured a chemical substance over him, put a rope around his neck and verbally abused him with racial and homophobic insults.
Two Nigerian men were arrested after police identified the brothers after viewing CCTV and surveillance cameras footage in the area at the time of the alleged attack.
After a national TV interview, it was found that Smollett knew the two men, one was his personal trainer and both had appeared as extras on the TV show Smollett stars in, Empire.
Despite claiming his innocence, police found no evidence after a comprehensive search of CCTV in the local area to corroborate evidence of the crime.
The brothers were released without charge and it soon alleged that the attack was planned by Smollet and that he paid the two men to take part in the hoax.
Police spokesman said felony criminal charges had been approved against the actor.
Mr Smollett had been charged for “disorderly conduct / filing a false police report”, the spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said in a tweet.
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
