CHICAGO (CBS) — Accusing him of slapping the city in the face, Chicago police announced Thursday that “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett had been charged with concocting an attack in Streeterville, because “he was dissatisfied with his salary.”
“Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,” Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a news conference Thursday morning. “This publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn’t earn, and certainly didn’t deserve.”
Smollett turned himself in to Chicago police early Thursday morning, hours after he was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself last month in Streeterville. Smollett turned himself in at the Central District police station at 18th and State streets around 5 a.m., police said. He made no statement to police.
The actor and singer, who is black and openly gay, had told police he was attacked as he was walking home around 2 a.m. on Jan. 29. He claimed two masked men – one of them also wearing a red hat – shouted racist and homophobic slurs as they beat him, put a noose around his neck, and poured a chemical on them.
Police said, in reality, Smollett had paid those two men, Ola and Abel Osundairo, $3,500 by check to stage the attack. CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar has reported Smollett also directed the brothers to buy the noose at a hardware story and the hat and masks a store in Uptown. Johnson said police have 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 make false accusations? How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?” Johnson said. “How can an individual who’s been embraced by the city of Chicago turn around and slap everyone in this city in the face by making these false claims?”
Johnson said the facial wounds on Smollett were self inflicted.
Johnson said bogus police reports cause real harm, and he fears for future victims of real hate crimes.
“My concern is that hate crimes will now publicly be met with a level of skepticism that previously didn’t happen,” he said.
Jussie Smollett was arrested early Thursday. CBS 2’s Marissa Bailey obtained the document exclusively. (CBS)
Smollett was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing at 1:30 p.m. on a felony charge of disorderly conduct.
Disorderly conduct is a Class 4 Felony. CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller says Smollett could face probation to up to 1.5 years in prison.
Smollett’s attorneys released the following statement after he was charged Wednesday night:
“Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked. Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense.”
Ola and Abel Osundairo, were arrested last week, but later released without charges. They left for Nigeria hours after the attack, and were arrested days later when they returned to Chicago.
On Wednesday, they testified to a grand jury. Smollett was later charged with disorderly conduct.
RELATED: Complete Coverage Of The Smollett Story
The two brothers allegedly told police Smollett also was behind creating a racist letter sent to the show, according to two sources with first-hand knowledge of the investigation.
When that letter did not get a “bigger reaction,” Smollett orchestrated the attack a week later with the two men, sources said.
CBS 2 was first to obtain video of the brothers buying a red hat and ski masks from a store the day before the assault. The video shows Ola and Abel Osundairo placing the masks and a hat on the counter.
The brothers’ attorney Gloria Schmidt spoke to the media after the brothers testified in front of the grand jury for 2.5 hours.
“I think the biggest thing for the American people to know is that this story has a lot of complications to it,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt says the brothers are not expecting 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 unload that conscience and just come out to the American people what actually happened.”
RELATED: Timeline Of Events In Jussie Smollett Case
Smollett has lawyered up—way up—hiring Los Angeles-based attorney Mark Geragos.
CBS 2’s Brad Edwards confirms Geragos will serve on Smollett’s defense team, which will still be led by Chicago-based attorneys Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson.
Geragos’ client list includes pop star Michael Jackson, actor Winona Ryder, and singers Chris Brown and Sean “Diddy” Combs.</body></html>
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/21/jussie-smollett-surrenders-disorderly-conduct-staged-attack/
2019-02-21 15:45:00Z
Bagikan Berita Ini
Related Posts :
Aespa Member Giselle Apologizes for Mouthing a Racial Slur - Teen Vogue- Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha star, Kim Seon Ho admitted in hospital: reports - Geo News
- NCT 127 long for dangerous love in 'Favorite (Vampire)' music video - UPI News
- Natural disasters can set the stage for cyberattacks - GCN.com
- Kelly Evans: Can the world afford populism? - CNBC
0 Response to "Police Say Jussie Smollett Paid Two Men By Check To Stage Attack; ‘This Publicity Stunt Was A Scar That Chicago Didn’t Earn’ - CBS Chicago"
Post a Comment