Jussie Smollett’s lawyer Tina Glandian says what her client experienced after the alleged attack was worse than the incident itself.
“This wasn’t a very brutal attack, obviously, it was frightening and is something he did not deserve,” Glandian told the “Today” show Thursday morning. “He, at this point, again has been victimized much more by what’s happened afterwards than what happened that night.”
“He at this point again has been victimized much more by what’s happened afterwards than what happened that night.”
Watch @SavannahGuthrie‘s full interview with Jussie Smollett’s attorney, Tina Glandian. pic.twitter.com/JY2ZYHYkVU
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 28, 2019
In a shocking turn of events Tuesday, Chicago prosecutors dropped all charges against Smollett after he had been indicted by a grand jury earlier this month on 16 felony counts of lying to authorities, prompting backlash from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police.
Smollett, 36, claimed he was attacked earlier this year in downtown Chicago by two masked white men who shouted racist and homophobic remarks at him on Jan. 29. Smollett, who is black and gay, claimed they put a noose around his neck and threw what he believed was bleach on him.
In February, the Chicago Police Department announced there was significant evidence that Smollett orchestrated a hoax attack, which was initially investigated by police as a hate crime. According to police, Smollett paid Abimbola Osundairo and Olabinjo Osundairo, two Nigerian-American brothers, $3,600 to carry out the assault, and did so to advance his career.
Smollett has consistently said he is innocent.
“What that attack was, pales in comparison to the attack on him by the mayor, by the CPD, by the press, by the public,” Glandian said.
During a press conference after the charges were dropped, Emanuel decried what he described as a “whitewash of justice” and said the “Empire” actor was given preferential treatment because he is a public figure. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who last month seethed as he described the investigation against Smollett’s “publicity stunt” that slapped the city in the face, said justice was not served and called for an apology to the city.
Although Glandian suggested in an interview Wednesday Smollett may take legal action, she said Thursday her client will likely not bring charges against the Osundairo brothers because he wants to put what happened behind him.
When told it would vindicate her client if Smollett were to expose the brothers as liars, Glandian said, “And we would want that, but what he’s been through after the fact is really a much harsher attack than he endured that night.”
