Things are happening fast today. First up, Chicago police are now officially classifying Jussie Smollett as a suspect and detectives are presenting evidence in the case before a grand jury according to CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi
Case Update: Jussie Smollett is now officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation by #ChicagoPolice for filing a false police report (Class 4 felony). Detectives are currently presenting evidence before a Cook County Grand Jury. pic.twitter.com/FhDcbBKsuU
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 20, 2019
About 15 minutes before Guglielmi announced the case was before a grand jury, reporter Rob Elgas of ABC7 in Chicago said the Osundairo brothers were seen entering the grand jury room with their attorneys:
BREAKING: Our news crew spots Chicago brothers and their attorney in Smollett investigation at courthouse entering a grand jury room. Unclear if they are actually testifying before a grand jury.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 20, 2019
As noted earlier, the brothers were expected to testify before the grand jury yesterday but that was called off after a last-minute phone call from Smollett’s lawyers. Today, those lawyers met with police investigators to discuss the case. From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Lawyers for Jussie Smollett are meeting with Cook County prosecutors and police investigators about the reported attack on the “Empire” actor late last month.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the Associated Press that the meeting was taking place Wednesday afternoon. He declined to confirm reports that subpoenas had been issued for Smollett’s phone and bank records.
Another minor development which will undoubtedly be part of the case against Smollett. CBS Chicago’s Charlie DeMar found video of the Osundairo brothers buying items used during the attack on Smollett including a red hat and ski masks.
EXCLUSIVE:
I tracked down surveillance of the Osundairo's buying supplies before "attack"
Sources say Jussie Smollet told brothers what to buy.
Countless phone calls placed for this.
Visited more stores than I wish to admit. @cbschicago https://t.co/GT6h2g6Y9a pic.twitter.com/ULr3UTDe9Q
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 20, 2019
Of course, the fact that the brothers bought the items used in the attack doesn’t prove Smollett was in on it but the red hat, in particular, seems to fit pretty well with the idea that this was staged to look like a hate crime by Trump supporters. Would the brothers have come up with that on their own? And if so, why did Smollett claim his attackers were white? It will be interesting to see how attorney Mark Geragos spins that as some kind of mistake.
Update: From ABC reporter Will Jones on the grand jury testimony today and what the brothers said. And word Smollett has now been indicted.
Gloria Schmidt (attorney for brothers): they testified for 2.5 hours in front of a grand jury. #Smollett
— Will Jones (@WillABC7) February 21, 2019
Gloria Schmidt (attorney for brothers): the brothers did get money from Jussie Smollett. #smollett
— Will Jones (@WillABC7) February 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/1098382377284448256
Breaking: Cook County State’s Attorney office tells @ABC7Chicago Jussie Smollett has been charged with felony disorderly conduct. Bond court hearing set for 1:30pm tomorrow.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 21, 2019
From the CPD spokesman. The next step is surrender for arrest:
Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report. Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest. pic.twitter.com/LvBSYE2kVj
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 21, 2019
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