In a statement Saturday night, attorneys for Jussie Smollett strongly denied that the “Empire” star faked the attack he reported on Jan. 29, and said “anyone claiming otherwise is lying.”
The statement comes after CNN reported that new evidence suggests that Smollett paid two bodybuilder brothers to orchestrate the attack in which he said he was beaten, covered in bleach and had a rope placed around his neck.
Smollett’s attorneys, Todd S. Pugh and Victor P. Henderson, said in their statement that the actor “has been further victimized” by these claims, and identified one of the men police arrested, then released without charges on Friday, as Smollett’s personal trainer.
The trainer, who was unnamed in the statement, was preparing Smollett for a music video, the statement said. “It is impossible to believe that this person could have played a role in the crime against Jussie or would falsely claim Jussie’s complicity,” the statement continues.
Earlier Saturday, Chicago Police Department chief communications officer Anthony Guglielmi said: “We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.”
Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday that police want to speak with Smollett.
The two brothers identified by CBS as Obabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo — though police did not release their names — were questioned this week as “potential suspects” then released without charges “due to new evidence” on Friday. CNN cited two law enforcement sources, who said the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement.
(Excerpt) Read more in: The Wrap