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 .