The City of Chicago has sent a letter to the attorneys representing Jussie Smollett asking that the “Empire” actor pay $130,000 to offset the costs of the investigation of the attack he reported in January.
“Given that he doesn’t feel any sense of contrition and remorse, my recommendation is that when he writes the check, in the memo section, he can put the words, ‘I’m accountable for the hoax,'” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said earlier Thursday.
Source: Jussie Smollett update: City of Chicago asks Jussie Smollett to pay for $130,000 cost of investigation
Smollett had been charged with 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police about a January attack in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, which police say Smollett staged on himself because he was unhappy with his “Empire” salary. All charges against him were dropped Tuesday in exchange for community service and forfeiture of his $10,000 bond payment.
What exactly happened in court just before the charges were dropped remains unknown as all records pertaining to the case have been sealed.
An attorney collectively representing various media outlets went to court Thursday to ensure that the files be preserved. She was assured by the judge that the records would be preserved while under seal, and that the state’s attorney’s office would notify her if Smollett’s team petitioned to expunge Smollett’s record.
Smollett is not currently seeking to have the records expunged, his attorneys confirmed. If they did, it would likely take about seven to eight months before a hearing is held.
“We support the court files being preserved. We have not and will not file a motion for destruction of any records in this case,” Patricia Brown Holmes, one of Smollett’s attorneys, said in a statement released Thursday.
President Donald Trump also weighed in Thursday morning, tweeting that the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice are looking into the Smollett case.
“FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!” Trump tweeted.
FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019
