How Jussie Smollett staged his attack, according to prosecutors

CHICAGO — Three weeks after first claiming he was the victim of a hate crime, Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report.

USA Today reports that Smollett told cops he was beaten by two masked men on January 29. Smollett said the attackers shouted racial and anti-gay slurs, poured a chemical substance over him, and wrapped a noose around his neck.

But surveillance footage, in-car taxi cameras, receipts, and bank accounts told a different story, according to Chicago investigators, who now say the actor planned the attack.

Court documents indicate that on January 22, Jussie Smollett received a threatening letter at the studio where the show 'Empire' is filmed. It came with a white powdery substance that was later determined to be ibuprofen.

Disappointed by the studio's handling of the letter, the actor met with friend Abel Osundairo and Abel's brother Ola three days later, and asked them to stage an attack on him.

According to prosecutors, Smollett wanted the assault to happen the night of January 28 near his Streeterville apartment. He told Abel to hurt him but not too badly, and Ola to put a rope around his neck, pour gasoline on him, and yell, "This is MAGA country!"

He then gave the brothers $100 to buy rope, gasoline, ski masks, gloves, and red MAGA baseball caps needed for the attack.

On January 27, Smollett drove the brothers to the scene where he wanted the assault to take place, pointing out a surveillance camera that would capture the incident. He instructed them to pour bleach instead of gasoline, and not to bring their cellphones, then gave a $3,500 personal check payable to Abel.

A flight delay on Smollett's part pushed the plan back to 2 a.m. on the 29th. The actor called Abel at 12:49 a.m. once his plane landed. Minutes later, the brothers hailed an Uber, switching to a cab midway that took them three blocks from the scene.

The attack took place on 2:04 a.m. as instructed, though out of view of the camera. The brothers fled the scene afterward, taking a taxi home.

Smollett's manager called to report the incident half an hour later. When police arrived at the actor's apartment, body cams captured him with a rope draped around his neck.

According to NBC, Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson said the Empire actor staged the attack in order to generate publicity, as he was dissatisfied with his salary.

The FBI is also investigating Smollett's involvement in the threatening letter he received the week before his assault, for which he could be facing federal charges.