Last year, the shocking story of Empire actor Jussie Smollett being allegedly attacked and beaten in a homophobic and racist hate crime became more dramatic when it was reported that Smollett may have orchestrated the attack himself. The story isn't finished yet.
Getty Images | Nuccio DiNuzzo
Jussie Smollett Indicted In Chicago For Allegedly Staging 2019 Hate Crime Attack
On January 29th, 2019, Smollett alleged he was attacked in Chicago.
Smollett had told police at the time his attackers had used homophobic and racial slurs during the attack.
Later, the attackers were identified as two men who knew Smollett, and they claimed he had paid them to stage the incident to raise his own profile.
Smollett was at the time indicted on 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct.
In a surprising move, however, all charges were dropped in March of 2019 in exchange for Smollett performing community service. Smollett, who has consistently maintained his innocence, sued the city of Chicago for malicious prosecution.
Chicaco Mayor at the time Rahm Emmanuel described the charges being dropped as a "whitewash of justice."
Emmanuel claimed the dropping of the charges as sending a message that people with power and influence are held to a different standard.
However, Smollett has once again been indicted, this time on 6 counts of disorderly conduct.
"After more than five months of investigation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has not found any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever related to the dismissal of the charges against Mr. Smollett," responded Smollett's attorney.
"Rather, the charges were appropriately dismissed the first time because they were not supported by the evidence. The attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State's Attorney election is clearly all about politics not justice," she continued.
Smollett himself has not publicly responded to the new charges.
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