‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Charged With Filing False Police Report

Empire star Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report, the Chicago police confirmed via Variety.

“Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest,” police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter.

Police previously stated that they were presenting evidence to a grand jury.

The 36-year-old actor could face one to three years in prison if convicted of the felony charge, though probation is also a possibility.

On January 29, Smollett reported that two men poured bleach on him, put a rope around his neck, and used racial and homophobic slurs. Following the allegation, Chicago police scoured surveillance cameras in the area but were unable to find images of the attack.

They later tracked down two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, who were in the area and were photographed purchasing the rope used in the attack.

One of the brothers is Smollett’s personal trainer and both have worked as extras on Empire.

They were arrested last week and questioned for two days. Local media reported that the men told detectives that Smollett had paid them to carry out the attack and they alleged that the trio rehearsed the assault.

The charges against Smollett were filed after the two men testified before a grand jury.

Smollett’s lawyers have previously issued a strong denial of allegations that he had faked the attack, saying the actor had “been further victimised by claims… that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying”.

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