Prosecutors dropped charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett at a surprise court hearing on Tuesday after the Chicago Police Department had charged him for allegedly filing a false police report.
Smollett had been charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly hiring two men to attack him in what was described as a staged attack near his Streeterville home in January.
Smollett previously told police he was walking in the 300 block of East North Water Street about 2 a.m. on Jan. 29 when two men walked up to him, yelled racial and homophobic slurs, hit him in the face, poured a substance — possibly bleach — on him and put a “thin, light rope” around his neck. The incident was being investigated as a hate crime.
The actor denied allegations that the attack was staged in an interview on “Good Morning America” with anchor Robin Roberts, and said the attacks on his credibility have been hard to take. He called accusations that he was lying “ridiculous.”
Here’s a timeline of our coverage:
Jan. 29: ‘Empire’ star victim of racist, homophobic attack in Streeterville, police say
Jan. 30: Rush asks for FBI hate crime investigation into attack of ‘Empire’ star
Jan. 30: Persons of interest in Jussie Smollett attack captured on camera, police say
Jan. 31: Trump calls Jussie Smollett attack ‘horrible,’ family calls it ‘domestic terrorism’
Feb. 1: Jussie Smollett on reported attack: ‘Justice will be served’
Feb. 3: Jussie Smollett opens act with emotion: Attackers won’t win
Feb. 11: 13 days after reported attack, Smollett gives CPD ‘redacted’ phone records
Feb. 12: After giving redacted phone records, reps stress ‘Jussie is the victim here’
Feb. 13: ‘Empire’ star Jussie Smollett tells GMA he’s ‘pissed off’ over doubters
Feb. 14: Police probe if attack on Smollett was staged, question actor linked to ‘Empire’
Feb. 15: Man arrested in Smollett attack convicted in 2011 stabbing, filed for bankruptcy
Feb. 15: Police release two men they arrested in attack of actor Jussie Smollett
Feb. 16: Detectives investigating if Jussie Smollett paid 2 men to stage attack: source
Feb. 18: Smollett may speak with detectives again Monday, actor’s attorney says
Feb. 18: Jussie Smollett will not meet with Chicago Police today: lawyer
Feb. 19: CPD: Brothers previously suspected in Smollett case meet with cops, prosecutors
Feb. 19: Politicians change their tune in wake of Smollett case revelations
Feb. 20: Kim Foxx sidesteps Smollett case over ‘familiarity with potential witnesses’
Feb. 20: Jussie Smollett adds celeb attorney Mark Geragos to legal team
Feb. 20: Jussie Smollett charged with disorderly conduct, prosecutors say
Feb. 21: Jussie Smollett turns himself in to cops after allegedly staging hate crime
Feb. 21: Smollett dragged ‘Chicago’s reputation through the mud’: CPD Supt. Johnson
Mar. 1: 2 brothers involved in alleged hoax attack on ‘Empire’ actor speak out
Mar. 7: Northwestern Hospital employees fired over Smollett incident: report
Mar. 8: ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct
Mar. 11: Jussie Smollett took advantage of Osundairo brothers: lawyer
Mar. 13: Records: Former Michelle Obama aide, Smollett relative reached out to Kim Foxx
Mar. 26: Charges dropped against ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett as part of deal
Mar. 26: FOP renews calls for investigation into Foxx ‘interference’ in Smollett case
Mar. 26: Why the charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped — and why many are stunned
Mar. 27: Smollett attorney: Politics, Kim Foxx not factors in charges being dropped
Mar. 27: How CPD protected key players in Smollett case — including the actor himself
Mar. 27: Kim Foxx defends dropping charges against Jussie Smollett: report
Mar. 27: Illinois attorney general asked to review ‘integrity’ of Smollett case
Mar. 27: Emanuel still demanding answers, won’t rule out lawsuit over Smollett probe cost
Mar. 27: Ex-aide to Michelle Obama denies trying to sway outcome of Smollett case
Mar. 27: Osundairo brothers’ lawyer says it was prosecutors’ job to ‘finish’ Smollett case
Mar. 28: Trump says Justice, FBI to review of ‘outrageous’ Smollett case; Rahm says butt out
Mar. 28: Smollett case files remain sealed, actor has not yet sought expungement
Mar. 28: Jussie Smollett nominated for NAACP Award, no word on whether he’ll attend show
Mar. 28: City demands $130K from Jussie Smollett for investigation costs
Mar. 29: A head fake: Trump’s tweet for DOJ, FBI ‘to review’ Smollett case
Mar. 30: Kim Foxx calls evidence ‘uncertain’ in latest twist of strange Smollett saga
Mar. 30: WATCH: On ‘SNL,’ Jussie Smollett claims second attack but grabs ‘a bag of clues’
Mar. 30: Chris Rock slams Jussie Smollett during NAACP Awards show
Mar. 31: Eddie Johnson: It’s time to ‘turn the page’ from Smollett fiasco
April 1: Police union, activists face-off over Kim Foxx, Jussie Smollett
April 2: Judge might unseal records in Jussie Smollett case
April 3: Former state’s attorney: Smollett case gone, but not about to be forgotten
April 4: City plans to sue Jussie Smollett after he misses deadline to pay police costs
April 4: Suburban police chiefs, Chicago cop union express ‘no confidence’ in Kim Foxx
April 11: Chicago sues Jussie Smollett to recoup police overtime costs
April 12: Foxx requests Cook County IG investigation into handling of Jussie Smollett case
April 16: Foxx thought 16 counts against Jussie Smollett was ‘overcharging’
April 18: 2 top deputies of State’s Attorney Foxx, one tied to Smollett case, to resign
April 19: Foxx: No comment on Smollett case until Inspector General report comes out
April 19: Jussie Smollett lawyers: Don’t appoint special prosecutor to probe Foxx’s office
April 20: Jussie Smollett hopes to clear his name in the court of public opinion
April 22: Kim Foxx receiving death threats after charges dropped against Jussie Smollett
April 23: Osundairo brothers’ lawsuit: Smollett ‘directed every aspect’ of fake attack