Quote (excellence @ Feb 11 2020 05:31pm)
Jussie Smollett indicted on new charges over alleged Chicago attack; attorney respondshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/02/11/jussie-smollett-indicted-alleged-chicago-attack/4728859002/Quote
A grand jury returned a six-count indictment accusing actor Jussie Smollett of lying to Chicago police, a special prosecutor announced Tuesday.
Smollett faces six counts of disorderly conduct, charging the actor with making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers "related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a crime," special prosecutor Dan Webb said in a statement.
Smollett's arraignment is Feb. 24 in Chicago.
The charges stem from Smollett’s assertion that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in January 2019.
Webb's statement said he has concluded that further prosecution of Smollett is “in the interest of justice,” noting the State's Attorney's office found at the time of the indictment that the evidence against Smollett was "strong," and that the office hasn't identified any new evidence that would have changed their view.
The special prosecutor's statement also said the investigation into the Cook County State's Attorney's office over questions of wrongdoing is ongoing.
The State's Attorney's office declined to comment.
Smollett's attorney, Tina Glandian, released a statement saying the new charges call into question the fairness of the investigation.
"This indictment raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation that led to the renewed charges against Mr. Smollett, not the least of which is the use of the same CPD detectives who were part of the original investigation into the attack on Mr. Smollett to conduct the current investigation, despite Mr. Smollett's pending civil claims against the City of Chicago and CPD officers for malicious prosecution," she said.
Glad to see they're going after the Cook County State's Attorney's office, as well.