New information coming from Chicago police sources suggests that ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett orchestrated the attack he claimed was carried out by two men who yelled: “This is MAGA country!”.
The CPD has asked to interview Smollett again after they arrested and then released two Nigerian brothers. Sources say that the brothers flipped on Smollett when they were threatened with being charged with battery. As it turns out, Chicago police discovered that the brothers bought the rope used to make a noose that was placed on Smollett’s neck at some point on the night of the supposed attack. They told police officers that they purchased the rope at Ace Hardware in Chicago.
The Chicago police would like to interview Smollett again:
A Chicago police spokesman said: “After we spoke to the former suspects last night, detectives reached out to Jussie Smollett’s attorneys and expressed interest that we need to talk to him again.”
#Breaking: 2 #CPD sources tell @fox32news the brothers arrested & released in #JussieSmollett case told detectives they were paid by the #Empire actor to orchestrate the attack. Detectives also have a receipt for the rope found on #Smollett neck showing the brothers bought it.
— raferweigel (@RaferWeigel) February 17, 2019
Smollett has hired a high profile defense lawyer. The lawyer also represented Michael Cohen. Smollett is supposedly the victim in this attack but hiring a defense attorney speaks volumes on where this case is going.
CNN is reporting:
Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Chicago Police believe Jussie Smollett paid the two men to orchestrate the assault.
TMZ is also reporting:
One law enforcement source tells TMZ at least one of the brothers turned over his phone and there is a call between him and Jussie in the vicinity of the “attack,” but before it happened.
The story of two “MAGA” supporters yelling homophobic and racial slurs is falling apart with the “new evidence” obtained by the CPD.
Just waiting for apologies from all of the anti-Trump people who jumped on Smollett’s hate hoax bandwagon.
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT ON THE NIGERIAN BROTHERS:
After Nigerian brothers were arrested yesterday, it seemed like the Jussie Smollett case was getting somewhere.
Not so fast.
A new twist in the case happened last night.
The brothers were released and not charged after being arrested and questioned. Smollett also hired the same defense attorney that represents Michael Cohen (see below).
Two potential suspects were arrested and then released without charges in alleged attack on “Empire” star Jussie Smollett. @ErielleReshef reports.https://t.co/z0tGvZCBTl pic.twitter.com/eSdz8T9ILZ
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 16, 2019
“ORCHESTRATED BY THE ACTOR”
Chicago’s CBS2 reports:
Two sources with intimate knowledge of the investigation tell CBS 2 Investigator Brad Edwards the attack on Smollett was potentially orchestrated by the actor himself and involved the two other men.
SMOLLETT HIRES A DEFENSE ATTORNEY:
Smollett also hired a top-notch defense attorney. This doesn’t make sense if Smollett claims he was the victim of a hate crime. Why would he need to hire a defense attorney?
High-profile #Chicago defense attorney Michael Monico let it be known he was representing #JussieSmollett on @RoeConn radio show today. Monico also represents #MichaelCohen. He's considered one of the best defense lawyers in the country.
— raferweigel (@RaferWeigel) February 16, 2019
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION AND RELEASE OF THE NIGERIAN BROTHERS:
The two potential suspects in the Smollet investigation are under arrest for battery. There’s obviously a discrepancy on what Smollett told the Chicago police and the men arrested today. Smollett initially told the police that racial things were said. These suspects are Nigerian brothers (pictured below). The profile certainly doesn’t fit what Smollett told the police when he said two people yelled racist and homophobic things at him. He said they also shouted, “This is MAGA country!” when they attacked him.
The charges could change but for now, it’s a charge of battery for the two Nigerian men who had been extras on Smollett’s show ‘Empire’. The interesting thing is that Smollett is friends with these guys. He follows them on Instagram and works out with one of them.
This is a developing story, but TMZ is reporting:
The men are brothers from Nigeria named Olabinjo (pictured below on the right) and Abimbola Osundairo (pictured below on the left), and Chicago cops are now calling them “potential suspects” … as opposed to persons of interest.
TWO NIGERIAN MEN:
BREAKING:Police raided the home of two persons of interest in Jussie Smollett case last night. Both men are of Nigerian decent and have appeared as extras on the show. Police took bleach, shoes electronics and more.Officers asked family if they knew #Jussiesmollett. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/PDSFtf5jwb
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 14, 2019
Charlie De Mar of CBS Chicago posted a photo of the list of things taken from the apartment of the two Nigerian men. One item is a script from the show ‘Empire’.
Also on the inventory list taken from the brothers home was “Script-Empire.”
Attorney says men have appeared as extras on #Empire. #Jussiesmollett #Jussiesmollett @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/ijiSV18j6n
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 15, 2019
The men are no longer suspects in this case.