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Chicago Police Release Investigative Files from Smollett Case

The 61-page police file — which was redacted to remove witness names and other personal information — lays out in detail the investigative steps taken by a team of detectives to unravel what happened to Smollett on the frigid January night in Streeterville when he claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack.

March 27, 2019
Chicago Police Release Investigative Files from Smollett Case

Screen capture of Jussie Smollett police report released by the Chicago Police Wednesday. (Photo: CWBChicago.com/Facebook)

Chicago police on Wednesday released the investigative file involving the alleged hate crime hoax by “Empire” star Jussie Smollett.

The release of the documents comes a day after Cook County prosecutors abruptly dropped a 16-count indictment against Smollett, saying they’d cut a deal with the actor to perform two days of community service and forfeit his $10,000 bond to the city of Chicago.

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The unusual move allowed Smollett’s attorneys to get his criminal case immediately sealed, caught Chicago police brass by surprise and brought swift condemnation from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who called it a "whitewash of justice."

The 61-page police file — which was redacted to remove witness names and other personal information — lays out in detail the investigative steps taken by a team of detectives to unravel what happened to Smollett on the frigid January night in Streeterville when he claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chicago-based news website CWBChicago says it acquired the files via the Freedom of Information Act.

They can be viewed at CWBChicago's site .

 

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