Chicago Police Department Has Photos of Smollett in Car With 'Attackers'
CPD published their investigative files following a Freedom of Information Act request
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The Chicago Police Department (CPD) reportedly has photographs of 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett driving in a car with the Osundairo brothers in the days leading up to the racist hoax attack.
The news comes to a CPD published their investigative files following a Freedom of Information Act request.
CWB Chicago first released the files, which were then reviewed by The Daily Caller.
“[One of the Osundairo brothers] was shown two large photographs of the vehicle which R/D believed was being driven by Smollett and which [an Osundairo brother] was a passenger in on 25-Jan-2019 and 27-Jan-2019. [An Osundairo brother] identified the photographs as the vehicle belonging to and driven by Smollett.
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“[An Osundairo brother] was then shown two large photographs of the vehicle which R/D believed was being driven by Smollett and which [an Osundairo brother] was a passenger in on 25-Jan-2019 and 27-Jan-2019. [An Osundairo brother] identified the photographs as the vehicle belonging do and driven by Smollett.”
Although the names were blacked out, the narrative of the files relates the blacked out portions Smollett and the brothers.
Also, the same text describing the police showing a photo appears twice, suggesting the brothers were asked about it.
The records state later on in the file:
“R/D asked [the two Osundairo brothers] the area in which Smollett drove on 27-Jan-2019 after [the two Osundairo brothers] were picked up by Smollett in front of their residence on Ashland Avenue, taking Ashland Avenue to Irving Park Road. Smollett then took Irving Park Road to Lake Shore Drive to the area where the attack would take place.”
According to The Daily Caller: A CPD representative declined to comment stating that as of March 27, 2019, per a judge’s order, the department is forbidden from commenting further on the case. The spokesperson said the files reviewed by the Caller were released the previous day before the order was instituted.
The two brothers deny having anything do with the letter sent to the “Empire” set before the attack, which is now being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“Both [Osundairo brothers] stated they had nothing to do with that letter. They were emphatic in their denial,” according to police reports.
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The files also show that CPD took great pains to protect Smollett from media attention and other prisoners when he was booked and processed.
The arrest was initiated at 5:10 AM and Smollett refused to answer any questions, according to the police file.
“At no time while on the 001st District was Smollett handcuffed, placed in a cell, or subjected to the media,” the report states.
“R/D and Detective Theis drove Smollett directly to the Cook County Jail, located on 2700 South California Ave in Chicago. R/D hand carried the arrest paperwork for Smollett,” the report states.
“R/D contacted Lt. Cintron of the Cook County Sheriff’s Department who allowed R/D, Detective Theis and Smollett to enter the facility via the receiving area. R/D went inside while Det Theis and Smollett waited in the police vehicle. R/D introduced himself to Lt. Cintron who asked if Smollett could wait in the Chicago Police vehicle until the receiving area was free of other prisoners.
"R/D agreed and at the request of Smollett, asked Lt. Cintron if Smollett could be kept segregated and housed separately until his appearance in bond court. Lt. Cintron stated he would facilitate R/D’s request.”
Jussie Smollett lawyers announced on Tuesday that all charges against the Empire actor had been dropped.
Smollett's attorneys Patricia Brown Holmes and Tina Glandian said in a statement that the actor’s record “has been wiped clean” after the prosecution's case reportedly "disintegrated."
After the attack made headlines around the world, the script later flipped and Smollett was indicted on 16 felony counts related to making a false report to police.
