Chicago cops release 2 men quizzed in Smollett case
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police late Friday released without charges two Nigerian brothers arrested on suspicion of assaulting “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett and said they have new evidence to investigate as a result of questioning them.
“The individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investiMEXICO gative work to complete,” Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a brief statement. He gave no details of the new evidence. Smollett, who is black and gay, has said two masked men shouting racial and anti-gay slurs and “This is MAGA country!” beat him and looped a rope around his neck early on Jan. 29 before running away. He said they also poured some kind of chemical on him.
The 36-year-old said he was out getting food at a Subway sandwich shop in downtown Chicago when the attack happened.
A spokesperson for Smollett said she had no comment on the release of the two men on Friday.