★★★★★ 0/5

Jussie Smollett released, bail set at $100,000.

Updated: Prosecutors say Jussie Smollett staged attack because he was "dissatisfied with his salary" on Empire.

0
Leave a comment


Third update:

The Hollywood Reporter notes Jussie Smollett is already back on the set of Empire — with added security, shortly after leaving Chicago’s Cook County jail. After posting $100,000 bail, the 36-year-old headed back to the set of the FOX drama.

Empire is currently shooting the penultimate episode of season five. As the legal process has unfolded over what local authorities are calling a hoax attack, the writers of the Lee Daniels and Danny Strong drama have multiple options they are considering for the season finale. Those options include keeping Smollett’s character, fan-favorite Jamal Lyon, in the script or writing the embattled actor out of the episode. It is yet to be renewed for season six.

Second Update:

TMZ reports Jussie Smollett has been released from custody into a mob of reporters, security and police officers. He got in a black SUV and quickly left the courthouse. Bail was just set by a judge at $100k. He has to surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions and post 10% of his total bail to be released from custody. He’s also subject to pre-trial monitoring.

Updated:

A Chicago judge set a $100,000 bond as Jussie Smollett made his first court appearance.

Smollett faces one felony count of filing a false police report. Police allege that Smollett staged a Jan. 29 attack, telling detectives that he was accosted by two men who used racial and homophobic slurs.

During a press conference on Thursday morning, the Chicago PD stated they believed Smollett staged the attack because he was “dissatisfied with his salary” on Empire. They also said that Smollett had sent a threatening letter to himself that was received at FOX days before the attack. Federal investigators are still probing that aspect of the case.

Variety reports Prosecutors allege that Smollett gave the brothers a $100 bill to purchase supplies for the attack, including red hats, ski masks and rope. Smollett wanted to stage the attack so that it would be captured on surveillance cameras, according to the bond proffer. He wrote a personal cheque to Abel Osundairo for $3500, which was deposited.

Smollett intended for the attack to take place at 10 p.m. on Jan. 28, but his flight from New York to Chicago was delayed by four hours. According to the proffer, Smollett rescheduled the attack for 2 a.m. Prosecutors say that Smollett was about four minutes late, and that the brothers waited at the designated location until he arrived. They allege that the staged attack took about 45 seconds, and was just outside of camera range.

The brothers ran away, and Smollett went home. When police responded, he allegedly told them that his attackers had poured bleach on him and put a rope around his neck, and said that this is “MAGA country.” He also claimed that he had received a threatening phone call on Jan. 26, in which the caller said “You little f—–” and hung up.

Prosecutors allege that Smollett stayed in touch with the two brothers, who left for Nigeria later that day. Phone records show that Abel Osundairo and Smollett spoke for more than eight minutes on Jan. 30, while Osundairo was in Istanbul.

“We understand the seriousness of this matter and we respect the legal process. We are evaluating the situation and we are considering our options,” 20th Century FOX TV and FOX Entertainment said in a joint statement.

Earlier:

Empire star Jussie Smollett is now in the custody of Chicago Police and due to appear in court for allegedly filing a false report of a crime.

According to media reports, Smollett turned himself in at 5:15 a.m. local time and made a statement to police before being taken into custody. His lawyers, Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson, were not present at the time.

At the time of writing Chicago police are due to hold a press briefing.

Media reports suggest producers are considering suspending him on Empire.

This post updates.

Source: Yahoo