Called It: Jussie Smollett Arrested

Actor Jussie Smollett was arrested, Thursday, and charged with felony disorderly conduct after allegedly falsifying a hate crime.

Washington Post has more: 

At a media briefing Thursday morning, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Smollett, who was arrested Thursday after turning himself in, paid two men $3,500 to help him stage the fake attack after a crude, threatening letter he sent to the “Empire” set in Chicago failed to get attention.

Johnson, a black Chicago native, said Smollett “took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.”

Johnson lamented the many resources Chicago police used on an investigation that lasted weeks. Detective Commander Edward Wodnicki said detectives interviewed more than 100 individuals and utilized both police cameras and private sector cameras to plot a timeline of the alleged assault. The investigation eventually led them to the two men, who were arrested by police last week and later released without being charged. Johnson said police have a check Smollett used to pay the men.

Smollett will appear in court for a bond hearing Thursday afternoon, authorities said, and he faces as many as three years in prison. Smollett’s attorneys have maintained he did not play a role in his attack.