Jussie Smollett Case: Chicago detectives eager to speak with actor after new evidence emerges
The narrative of the 'Empire' star's real life story is twisting like an episode of the show in which he stars
In the ever-evolving investigation into the alleged attack against Empire actor Jussie Smollett, his attorneys now say he will talk to Chicago detectives once again on Monday after new details in the case surfaced The Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Smollett has retained attorney Todd Pugh and a new legal team after new evidence surfaced in the case that “shifted the trajectory of the investigation” when two brothers were named as possible co-conspirators who possibly staged the attack at the behest of Smollett.
READ MORE: Jussie Smollett assault case has ‘shifted’, sources suggest actor orchestrated attack
Pugh told the Sun-Times on Sunday that he and his legal team “expect to [be] back online tomorrow with the investigators and an interview depends on scheduling availability.”
According to CNN, two credible sources tied to law enforcement have come forward to confirm that Chicago Police believe the actor paid two men to assault him.
To further substantiate that claim is the fact that authorities say, “the trajectory of the investigation” into the reported attack had shifted and they wanted to conduct yet another interview with Smollett.
Late Friday, police released two Nigerian brothers they had detained for questioning earlier in the week, without charges. Sources have told CNN that’s because the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement.
On Saturday, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told CBS Chicago: “We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.”
Smollett, 36, claimed he was attacked by in the early morning hours of Jan. 29 after he left a Subway restaurant by two masked men shouting racistl and anti-gay slurs, also saying “this is MAGA country!” He said they looped a rope around his neck like a noose before fleeing. He also claimed they poured some kind of bleach like chemical on him.
READ MORE: Nigerian brothers confirmed to be in surveillance video showing attack against Jussie Smollett
“We have some information that needs to be corroborated and verified with Mr. Smollett [sic],” another police spokesman, Tom Ahern, told the Sun-Times on Sunday.
However, Sunday night Guglielmi said Smollett has not been classified as an “offender.”
Also it was learned that one of the brothers purchased a rope that was allegedly hung around Smollett’s neck at a Crafty Beaver hardware store in Ravenswood, a law enforcement source said.
The police now seem to have made it clear that they believe the brothers at least in part and now have serious questions for Smollett.
This is a developing story.
