‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett missed Thursday’s deadline to reimburse the city of Chicago for their “investigation” costs associated with his alleged hate crime hoax, with officials now confirming they plan to sue the celebrity to recoup upwards of $130,000.
“Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019,” said a spokesperson Thursday. “The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Once it is filed, the Law Department will send a courtesy copy of the complaint to Mr. Smollett’s L.A. based legal team.”
Smollett’s legal team fired-back at Chicago officials hours after missing the seven-day deadline set by outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“As you know, Mr. Smollett vehemently denies making any false statements to the City of Chicago… Thus, your claim that Mr. Smollett filed a false police report and orchestrated his own attack is false and defamatory,” read the statement.
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SMOLLETT’S STATEMENT: Lawyer Says Actor ‘Betrayed’ by Legal System Seeking to ‘Skip Due Process’
The legal team representing ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett released an official statement Thursday evening; saying the celebrity was “betrayed” by the legal system that orchestrated a “law enforcement spectacle.”
“Mr. Smollet is a young man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence and feels betrayed by a system that apparently wants to skip due process and proceed directly to sentencing,” read the statement.
“Today we witnessed an organized law enforcement spectacle that has no place in the American legal system,” the statement added. “The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett and notably, on the eve of a Mayoral election,” it added.
Smollett was taken into custody Thursday morning and charged with filing a false police report regarding an alleged hate-crime hoax.
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BREAKING: Prosecutors Drop ALL CHARGES Against ‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett
Prosecutors in Chicago dropped all charges against ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett Tuesday morning; ending all proceedings over allegations he intentionally staged a “hate crime” just months ago.
“Calling himself a man of faith ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett said Tuesday that he felt vindicated after the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said it would drop all charges against him,” reports Fox News.
“Not for a moment was it in vain. I’ve been truthful and consistent on every level since day one,” he said. “I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I was accused of. “
“It’s unclear at this time why the court decided not to proceed with prosecution, but the former ‘Empire’ star is expected to give a statement after he leaves the courthouse later today,” adds Fox.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.