The Chicago Police Department cannot seem to contain their outrage Jussie Smollett is not behind bars — even though his 16 felony counts for filing a false police report wouldn’t have resulted in prison time. Nonetheless, even after the justice system did its job and charges were dropped, they now want him to pay for the overtime of the investigation. Smollett is refusing and the city of Chicago is threatening to sue.
See Also: Complete Timeline Of Jussie Smollett Investigation
The city’s Department of Law sent Smollett a bill for $130,106.15, and the deadline to pay was yesterday. The Law Department issued the following statement, “Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on Jan. 29, 2019. The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County… The Law Department will file the suit in the near future. As part of this legal action, the Law Department will pursue the full measure of damages allowed under the ordinance.”
How bizarre that Smollett had all charges dropped but he is supposed to pay for the work they do everyday?
The Chicago Police Department dropped the ball from the beginning with their handling of the case. Originally, a police spokesperson said there was no footage of the assailants. Then, hours later, there were two “persons of interest” on video. They also claimed the “Empire” actor “refused” to give the cops his phone, but he did give his phone records. Then the FBI reportedly said the Chicago police “overstated” their Smollett case. There is also how the police blindly believed the Nigerian-American brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo, with what appears to be no corroborating evidence.
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Jussie paid the brothers $3,500 to stage the attack. However, according to the lawyers for brothers, the $3,500 check was for training. The check was written to Abel on January 23, 2019, six days before the “attack.” The memo line reads, “5 week Nutrition/Workout program Don’t Go.’” “Don’t Go” is a song for a music video where he would appear shirtless.
The brothers were on video appearing to buy items allegedly used for the attack.
Last week, the lawyer for the Nigerian brothers reportedly quit. TMZ reported Gloria Schmidt, their former lawyer, told them to speak out publicly but they are refusing so she “bailed on them, saying she didn’t want to rep them anymore.”
In addition, according to court documents, the Associate Press claims, “Chicago police provided a six-night hotel stay with separate rooms and 24-hour security.” The hotel stay was “from Feb. 15 to Feb. 21 at the Chicago South Loop Hotel near the city’s McCormick Place convention center.” Also, “Assistance for food and incidentals were also provided” one report read. Rates for the Chicago South Loop Hotel are around $229 per night.
Sounds like the Chicago Police Department ruined their own investigation.
On Jan. 29, while walking to a subway, Smollett claimed two men yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him, investigators told The Hollywood Reporter. They allegedly punched and poured bleach on him while one of the suspects put a rope around his neck. As they fled the scene, Smollett told police they said, “This is MAGA country.”
Smollett has always maintained his innocence.
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