After prosecutors decided to drop all charges against Jussie Smollett, officials in Chicago want to bill the actor $130,000 for investigating his case.
Smollett, 36, told police in late January he was assaulted by racist and homophobic attackers in Chicago. In February, the Chicago Police Department announced they had found evidence showing the “Empire” star orchestrated a hoax attack and he was indicted on 16 felonies. On Tuesday, prosecutors made the shocking announcement that they had dropped all charges.
Police and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel were incensed by the decision, maintaining that Smollett was guilty. Now it appears officials are striking back and will bill Smollett for the cost of the extensive and highly publicized investigation, according to the New York Post.
“The City of Chicago will be sending Mr. Smollett a bill,” said Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
“It was an extensive investigation that required a lot of review of cameras,” Guglielmi said. “There was technical assistance provided by external agencies, but it’ll likely only include Chicago expenses and not expenses incurred by the FBI and other technical experts we brought in for analysis.”
After uncertainty over the dollar amount, Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for Chicago’s legal department, said Thursday that the city is seeking $130,000 from Smollett.
Since Tuesday, Smollett’s lawyers suggested he might take legal action. Police and other officials still stand by the claim that Smollett, who is black and gay, paid two brothers $3,500 to pour bleach on him and put a noose around his neck. Smollett is also alleged to have sent threatening letters to himself before the incident.
