Jussie Smollett Indicted for “False Reports” of Alleged Attack

Jussie Smollett has been indicted by a Cook County grand jury on six charges of disorderly conduct over the January 2019 police report where he claimed that he was the victim of a hate crime, NBC News reports. Special Prosecutor Dan Webb’s office announced the six-count indictment in a statement today.

In early 2019, Smollet—the actor who formerly played Jamal Lyons on Empire—alleged that he was attacked in Chicago. The incident was described and investigated as a hate crime, however the case took an unexpected turn when Smollett was later indicted for allegedly staging the attack. Smollett pleaded not guilty, and the charges were ultimately dropped.

The special prosecutor’s office cited “sufficient factual evidence to determine that it disagrees” with the Cook County State Attorney’s Office decision to drop the charges in exchange for Smollett forfeiting his bond and doing community service. According to the special prosecutor’s statement, “The CCSAO decision-makers overseeing the Smollett resolution decision have not identified any new evidence they learned of between the time of indictment and dismissal of the indictment that changed their view that the evidence against Mr. Smollett was strong.”

The City of Chicago is currently suing Smollett over the cost of the police investigation.

Pitchfork has reached out to Jussie Smollett’s representatives.