>>7727
Reminder it's about the fake and gay letter he sent to himself (kek):
FBI investigation into threatening letter sent to 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett remains a loose end
Jussie Smollett walked out of the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Tuesday free of 16 felony counts of falsely reporting he was attacked by two men hurling racist and homophobic slurs.
But a federal investigation remains a loose end hanging over the โEmpireโ actor.
A week before Smollett reported the attack, he told police he received a letter containing a death threat Jan. 22 at the Fox production studio at 1445 S. Rockwell St. Chicago police officers initially responded, but the FBI took over the investigation because it involved the U.S. Postal Service.
Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has said the letter is as phony as the attack, which he said Smollett staged when the letter got no publicity. But federal officials have yet to say anything publicly about the letter or possible charges.
Representatives of the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service declined to comment Wednesday on whether the investigation was continuing, which is routine.
The white envelope was addressed to Smollett in large, childish handwriting with โMAGAโ written in the left corner, an apparent reference to President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan. Witnesses told police a postal worker dropped off the letter. It was postmarked in southwest suburban Bedford Park on Jan. 18, four days earlier, and bore two American flag stamps.
Smollett told police he and the showโs executive producer used gloves to open the envelope. The letter inside depicted a message from letters cut out of a magazine, with a racist and homophobic death threat accompanied by a drawing. The letter contained white powder that was later determined to be crushed pain reliever.
A week later, on Jan. 29, Smollett reported he was attacked by two masked men who hit him, placed a noose around his neck and poured a liquid on him.
But within a month, Smollett was arrested and charged with paying two brothers to stage the attack. The brothers began cooperating after authorities picked them up at OโHare International Airport on Feb. 13 as they returned from Nigeria.
Chicago Police Department case files released Wednesday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request indicate detectives asked the brothers about the letter during an interview at the South Loop Hotel on Feb. 18. โBoth stated they had absolutely nothing to do with that letter,โ the report says. โBoth were emphatic about the denial.โ
A federal agent assigned as a task force officer was also involved in the investigation, the case files indicate, though the Chicago Police Department often works with federal authorities in such cases.
The agent got copies of search warrants issued against Smollett, was present when the brothers were questioned and was at the police station when Smollett was arrested. The agent also helped to sneak the brothers into the criminal courthouse for a grand jury appearance.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-jussie-smollett-fbi-20190327-story.html