Newly released surveillance footage appears to show former “Empire” actorJussie Smollett and the men who allegedly attacked him in the area where he reported being attacked in the early hours of Jan. 29.
Smollett said that he had gone to get a sandwich when he was accosted by two men, whom he described as white supporters of President Donald Trump.
On national television, the actor said he believed he was targeted because he had spoken out against Trump.
But Chicago police officials said an investigation indicated he’d coordinated the attack with the alleged attackers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, who knew Smollett. The actor was accused of paying the Osundairos to carry out the attack in the hopes it would lead to his salary on “Empire” being raised.
“This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary,” Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a press conference on Feb. 21.
A grand jury returned 16 felony counts against Smollett but all charges against him were inexplicably dropped on March 26, leaving officials stunned.
The new surveillance footage was released by Fox News on July 2. The outlet said it obtained the video from the Chicago Police Department through a Freedom of Information Act request.
“According to police notes, the surveillance video is likely between 1:45 and 2 a.m. on January 29 and appears to show Smollett in the same white, patterned sweater he was later captured wearing by Chicago Police body cameras when officers entered his apartment to respond to the 911 call about his alleged hate crime,” Fox News reported.
NEW Smollett video very much appears to place the actor (white sweater) and the Osundairo brothers (hoodies) at the scene of the “attack.” And- appears to clearly show one brother in red-brimmed hat, which PD notes & surveillance indicates was purchased for the alleged hoax. pic.twitter.com/nmQ3QqNRb6
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) July 2, 2019
“A portion of the newly released surveillance video shows Smollett walking away from his luxurious Chicago high-rise apartment building. He walks in a calm manner toward the direction of the Subway sandwich shop, where he told police he went and later returned to encounter his alleged attackers. The video also appears to show Smollett releasing a puff or two of smoke, which was also noted by investigators in handwritten police documents,” it added.
Smollett’s attorneys did not return a request for comment sent by Fox.
Police have already said publicly that two men seen in the area were identified as the Osundairos. Barely anyone was outside on Jan. 29 because of the polar vortex, which ushered in subzero temperatures across the Midwest.
Smollett has repeatedly said he was attacked and denied he was involved in orchestrating a hate crime.
In a statement after the charges were dropped, one of his attorneys said: “Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified & made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false & inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgment.”
Smollett was dropped by “Empire” after being charged and has not returned the show.
The last update before the video was released was the news that a special prosecutor would be appointed to probe how Smollett’s case was handled, potentially pressing fresh charges against him.
