A judge ordered records to be unsealed from “Empire” star Jussie Smollett’s criminal case, a move that will reveal more information about the controversy surrounding the 36-year-old actor.
Cook County Judge Steven Watkins made the decision Thursday after attorneys representing media outlets pushed to get the records unsealed.
Smollett was accused of hiring two individuals to fake a hate crime against him for his personal benefit and was charged with 16 felonies. The records were sealed after all charges against Smollett were suddenly dropped in March by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
The decision left police and city officials incensed. The City of Chicago sued Smollett to recoup the cost of investigating the alleged fake hate crime. Fox Entertainment announced this month that “Empire” would end after next year’s season and that there are no plans for Smollett to return to the show.
