Tag: Empire FOX
Jussie Smollett Case: Two Suspects Released Without Charges as New Evidence Emerges
Article via Variety
After two days of questioning, the Chicago Police Department announced Friday evening that it has released two suspects in the Jussie Smollett case without filing charges. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that detectives had developed new information in the case. Police no longer consider the men to be suspects.
“Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” he said.
Also on Friday, defense attorney Michael Monico confirmed to Variety that he is now representing Smollett, one of the stars of “Empire.”
Smollett told police on Jan. 29 that two men attacked him, yelled homophobic and racial slurs, poured bleach on him, and put a rope around his neck. Local media has reported that investigators are looking into whether the incident was staged. The Chicago Police Department has said that it had no evidence of that, and that Smollett is still being treated as a victim.
Monico is a high-powered defense attorney with decades of experience. He recently represented Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer, in his criminal case.
The two men released Friday evening — who police have not officially identified — had been under arrest, though police never disclosed what charges they could potentially face. The attorney for the two Nigerian brothers told CBS Chicago that both know Smollett from “Empire,” and that they go to the same gym. The attorney denied that the men had attacked Smollett.
Police searched the home of the two brothers on Wednesday night, finding electronics, shoes, and bleach, according to local reports. Fox issued a statement on Thursday standing by the actor, and strongly dismissing a report that Smollett may have acted out because he was being written off the show.
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Chicago police say ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett refuses to hand over cellphone to them
Article via NBCNews
The actor declined to share telephone records that could show he was speaking with his manager during his alleged assault.
CHICAGO — “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has refused to turn over his cellphone to detectives, who are investigating the alleged attack that sent him to the hospital earlier this week, Chicago police said Thursday.
The actor declined to share telephone records that could show he was speaking with his manager just as the alleged assault happened early Tuesday morning in Chicago, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told NBC News.
Smollett has told police he was confronted by two men who allegedly hurled racist and homophobic slurs just before they beat him up. They are investigating the case as a possible hate crime.
The manager has told police he heard the attackers say, “This is MAGA country,” during the assault, officials said.
When police asked Smollett for his cellphone and records to confirm the call, he refused to share them, according to Guglielmi.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Chicago police would seek to obtain those records independently.
A representative for the actor could did not immediately return messages seeking comment about the cellphone and phone records.
But in a prepared statement issued late Thursday afternoon, Smollett’s family, through the same representative, reiterated his claim of being attacked because of his race and orientation.
“In the early hours of Tuesday morning, our beloved son and brother, Jussie, was the victim of a violent and unprovoked attack. We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime,” according to the family statement.
“Jussie has told the police everything from the very beginning. His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice.”
Police have reviewed hundreds of hours of footage from more than 20 surveillance cameras in the area, according to Guglielmi. They have not found any images of the alleged attack, but do have footage that shows part of Smollet’s journey to and from the neighborhood.
Police have released pictures, taken from surveillance cameras, of two “potential people of interest” but stopped short of calling them suspects.E
jesse smallette late night attack
I’m going to be an asshole and have an opinion. Something about this attack does not sound right. I do hope that Jesse recovers and gets well. I know one thing I’m going to be keeping up with the story. Jesse may not have been looking for a late night snack in the food aisle. But he may have been looking for a hotdog and some nuts.