(Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Chicago police records from the investigation into the Jussie Smollett case were released Wednesday, revealing numerous behind-the-scenes maneuvers to clear the “Empire” actor from criminal prosecution.
The release of the documents came a day after Cook County prosecutors abruptly dropped a 16-count indictment accusing Smollett of orchestrating a Jan. 29 racist and homophobic attack on himself to advance his career. In dismissing the case, prosecutors said they had cut a deal with the actor to perform two days of community service and forfeit his $10,000 bond to the city of Chicago.
The report revealed new details about the police obtaining a search warrant for Smollett’s iCloud account and then sharing the data with the FBI. The report also provided fresh details about the $3,500 check Smollett wrote to Abimbola “Abel” Osundairo and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo. The brothers claimed they were paid to carry out the attack on Smollett, though Smollett said the money was for personal training sessions.
WIBC host Tony Katz discussed the release of the Smollett files on his show Thursday morning.
Katz:
“Chicago police are outraged and disgusted by this, and they’re right to be disgusted. Why was Jussie Smollett given this special treatment? He can forfeit his $10,000 bond and that’s enough? He lied about an attack. He’s throwing these two Nigerian brothers under the bus, and he’s walking away like nothing happened.”
Click the link below to hear Tony’s full commentary.
