CHICAGO TO SUE SMOLLETT OVER COSTS
Suit follows actor’s refusal to pay police for overtime in investigating his false report
CHICAGO will sue actor Jussie Smollett for the costs of police overtime spent investigating his claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, which prosecutors say were false, a city official said on Thursday.
The suit was being prepared after Smollett, 36, refused a demand by the city for US$130,000, (RM531,856) said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city’s Department of Law.
“Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on Jan 29, said McCaffrey.
“The Law Department is drafting a civil complaint to be filed in the Cook Country Circuit Court.”
Smollett touched off a social media fire storm by telling police on Jan 29 that two apparent supporters of United States President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him.
But the actor, best known for his role as a gay musician on the Fox Television hip-hop drama Empire, was charged in February with staging the incident and filing a false police report.
Last week, prosecutors dropped all charges against Smollett, infuriating police and outgoing mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Prosecutors said they stood by the accusation but that an agreement by Smollett to forfeit his US$10,000 bond was a just outcome.
The case file was sealed by a Chicago judge, which critics suggested was evidence of a cover-up.
The actor’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, could not be reached for comment.
On Monday, some 300 people took to the streets to protest, calling on Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to resign over her handling of the case.