Jussie Smollett case to go to grand jury as it's alleged Empire star 'REHEARSED hoax attack with two Nigerian brothers who he paid $3,500 to assault him with bleach and a noose'
Law enforcement sources familiar with the Jussie Smollett attack investigation told TMZ that a grand jury will hear the case next week
Chicago police have said Smollett may have orchestrated an assault on himself
Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo, who are cooperating with investigators, reportedly told detectives that they did a practice run days before
Smollett furiously denied hoax claims saying 'nothing is further from the truth'
The actor issued a statement Saturday night through his lawyers, who now say one of the suspects was Smollett's personal trainer for a music video
'It is impossible to believe that this person could have played a role in the crime against Jussie or would falsely claim Jussie’s complicity', they say
Attorneys say Smollett 'has now been further victimized by claims'
Both men, Nigerian brothers, are friends of Smollett and said to be anti-Trump
The brothers were reportedly paid $3,500 and were promised additional $500
Smollett said last month that he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack
Initial reports said two noose-wielding men yelled 'this is MAGA country'
Police say new evidence emerged in interrogations that requires investigation
However, Smollett is not officially considered a suspect, CPD said
He recently hired high-powered defense lawyer Michael Monico
A grand jury is slated to hear the Jussie Smollett case next week, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation into the Empire actor's alleged hoax attack.
Chicago police insiders told TMZ that authorities are keeping a close eye on two Nigerian brothers, who were arrested and questioned about the attack before being released on Friday, to make sure that Smollett doesn't try to contact them.
Investigators have said they believe Smollett may have paid Empire extras Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo $3,500 to assault him in an orchestrated, rehearsed attack on January 29.
Sources say Smollett initially agreed to sign complaints against his assailants, but declined to do so once he heard that Abel and Ola were the men in custody because he knew them and felt bad for them.
Reports of a possible grand jury emerged hours after the Chicago Police Department said Smollett was not yet being considered an official suspect, despite insider claims to the contrary.
'We have some information that needs to be corroborated and verified with the Empire cast member before we can answer this question,' CPD said in a statement to TMZ.
'After new developments, we've reached out to his attorney and requested additional time to interview him.'
Smollett has furiously denied claims that he orchestrated the assault and said 'nothing could be further from the truth'.
Abel and Ola reportedly told detectives that the 2am attack was supposed to happen earlier and that they did a practice run beforehand, according to CBS Chicago.
( Jussies plane was delayed 5 hours that night, so that is why they said it was planned for earlier)
Sources said one of the brothers put a rope around Smollett's neck and poured bleach over him while the other wore a red hat and yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him.
The brothers, who reportedly had a relationship with Smollett and were extras on Empire, told authorities they had bought the items used in the attack at the actor's direction.
Smollett had told police that on January 29, two assailants tied a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him while yelling 'Empire f*t' and 'Empire n**' at him.
That narrative, however, is now under serious scrutiny by investigators, who reportedly have evidence that Smollett directed his 'attackers' to buy the rope used in the 'assault' at a local hardware store.
Documents prove two Nigerian brothers, who work as extras on the highly rated Fox drama, bought the rope which was found around Smollett’s neck at Crafty Beaver Hardware Store in Chicago.
Sources said that the brothers used Smollett's money when they made the purchase on the weekend of January 25.
They also bought two red plain hats that they wore during the alleged attack, according to sources close to the investigation.
Police believe that the red hats were purchased at a local beauty supply store in the Uptown section of Chicago.
We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation,' Chicago Police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said.
'We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6714489/Empire-star-Jussie-Smollett-allegedly-REHEARSED-hoax-attack-two-Nigerian-brothers.html