Chicago Police Department Chief Eddie Johnson shed new light on their ongoing investigation into actor Jussie Smollett’s felony charge Thursday; saying the ‘Empire’ star’s wounds and bruises were “likely self-inflicted.”
“The brothers had on gloves during the staged attack where they punched him a little bit, but as far as we can tell the scratches and bruising that you saw on his face was most likely self-inflicted,” said Johnson.
The revelation comes hours after Smollett was taken into custody by Chicago law enforcement for allegedly “staging” a hate-crime because he was “dissatisfied with his salary.”
"The brothers had on gloves during the staged attack where they punched him a little bit, but as far as we can tell the scratches and bruising that you saw on his face was most likely self-inflicted," Chicago PD chief Eddie Johnson said. https://t.co/MfyQuQi1uf pic.twitter.com/29qTT2oOio
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2019
CHICAGO PD: Smollett Staged Attack, Sent Letter Because ‘He was Dissatisfied with Salary’
New details continued to emerge surrounding ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett’s arrest Thursday, with the Chicago Police Department saying the celebrity “staged” the attack because he was “dissatisfied with his salary.”
“JUST IN: Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson: Jussie Smollett ‘paid $3,500 to stage this attack…The stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary,” posted ABC News.
JUST IN: Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson: Jussie Smollett "paid $3,500 to stage this attack…The stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary." https://t.co/5AiMcfe6iH pic.twitter.com/0za7CEbVtv
— ABC News (@ABC) February 21, 2019
“Smollett attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic, and political language. When that didn’t’ work Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack… Why? The stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary,” confirmed the police department.
GERALDO ON HANNITY: Jussie Smollett ‘PLAYED US’
Fox News’ commentator Geraldo Rivera stopped by ‘Hannity’ Tuesday night to weigh-in on the ongoing controversy surrounding actor Jussie Smollett; saying the ‘Empire’ star “played us” by potentially perpetrating a hate-crime hoax.
“This guy played us. Race and racism and politics are inexplicably interwoven… African-Americans tend to gravitate towards the Democratic Party in huge numbers. A charge like this is so incendiary because it justified and re-affirmed the stereotype that people had,” said Rivera.
“The whole scenario with the noose and the bleach and invoking the President’s name. It was so patently obvious… yet we bought this guy’s unbelievable tale,” he added.
Watch Geraldo on Hannity above.