Chicago police want to question ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett
Releasing pair held in connection with reported attack, cops say probe ‘shifted’
CHICAGO — Chicago police say “the trajectory of the investigation” into the reported attack on Jussie Smollett has shifted and they want to conduct another interview with the “Empire” actor after releasing two brothers they had been questioning about a reported attack against the actor.
Twelve hours after calling them “possible suspects,” police late Friday released the brothers without filing any charges, citing “new evidence” they did not disclose.
On Saturday, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi issued a statement saying: “Information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.”
The brothers’ lawyer told reporters Friday night that “innocence prevailed” but was vague about why her clients were held and why they were released.
“They are not charged. They are not suspects in this case,” attorney Gloria Schmidt said.
Police sources have said detectives are investigating the possibility that Smollett had the brothers fake the attack around 2 a.m. Jan. 29. Schmidt has said the brothers have worked with Smollett on “Empire.”
Attorney Michael Monico, who is representing Smollett, declined to comment.
The men were arrested Wednesday night after detectives tracked their movements on surveillance cameras in the Streeterville neighborhood, where Smollett says two men shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him, hit him and wrapped a rope around his neck while yelling, “This is MAGA country!”