Jussie Smollett is ARRESTED for filing a false police report and disorderly conduct after 'faking racist, homophobic attack then lying to the police about it'
Smollett handed himself in to police privately
either late on Wednesday night or early on Thursday morning
The 36-year-old is being held for filing a false police report and disorderly conduct
He is due to appear in court at 1.30pm CT on Thursday afternoon
His lawyers released a statement on Wednesday condemning the police
They said he was entitled to the presumption of innocence 'like any citizen'
Brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo testified against him in front of a grand jury
They say he paid them to attack him in Chicago on January 29
He claimed two masked assailants beat him, tied a noose around his neck, poured bleach on him and yelled: 'This is MAGA country!'
Smollett's motive for the alleged hoax remains unclear but police sources have suggested he was trying to boost his profile
20th Century Fox is reportedly considering suspending him in light of his arrest
ussie Smollett handed himself into police at 5am on Thursday, away from the glare of cameras after being charged with filing a false police report.
Late on Wednesday night, Smollett was charged for allegedly staging the January 29 attack and then lying repeatedly to police about it after Nigerian brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo testified against him before a grand jury.
They say he paid them to carry out the attack and that he also sent a threatening letter to himself a week earlier.
Within hours of him being charged, Smollett's attorneys arranged for him to hand himself in quietly at Chicago's 1st District afterwards.
After being processed at the station, he was transferred to the Cook County courthouse where he will appear at 1.30pm.
He is being held separately from other detainees.
Smollett has vowed to fight the charges with an 'aggressive' defense.
In a statement on Wednesday night, his attorneys condemned the police's handling of his case.
In previous statements, the actor has accused the media of portraying him unfairly and reporting what they called 'uncorroborated' information that had come from within the police department.
20th Century Fox, which released a statement hours before he was charged to say it was standing by him, is now reportedly suspending the actor.
A press conference is scheduled for 9am CT during which detectives will give more details about the arrest. It is not yet known where he was or what time he was taken into custody.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6729221/Jussie-Smollett-arrested-faked-racist-attack-lied-police-it.html