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Actor Jussie Smollett walks with supporters into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, Thursday morning, March 14, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

A timeline of Jussie Smollett’s reported attack and its investigation

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

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