A judge in Chicago ordered that “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett’s criminal records be unsealed after news organizations went to court to get them last week.
The records involving the 36-year-old actor had been sealed back in March shortly after charges against him were dropped by prosecutors, according to ABC7 Chicago on Thursday.
He was arrested and faced multiple felony charges for allegedly faking a hate crime that involved racist and homophobic slurs against himself in January.
Media attorney Natalie Spears argued that there was no point in keeping the records sealed anymore.
Congress flees town as health care premiums set to explode for millions of Americans in January
DOJ appeals dismissal of James, Comey criminal cases in long-shot legal gamble
Tragic: Conan O’Brien Could Have Saved Reiners’ Lives if He Hadn’t Ordered Guests Not to Call the Police When Nick Spun Out of Control
Brown University hires former US Attorney Zachary Cunha as possible campus shooting lawsuits loom
Zohran Mamdani Elects to Be Sworn in by Bernie Sanders
Brown University custodian told security suspicious man was ‘casing’ building weeks before shooting: report
Trump-backed Donalds vows to maintain DeSantis ‘trajectory,’ take Florida to ‘whole new level’
DOJ sues DC over restrictive gun laws
McConnell and Shaheen take bipartisan whacks at Biden and Trump over Ukraine strategies
Watch: Mortified Nicki Minaj Goes Speechless for 20 Seconds Straight After Accidental Assassination Joke to Charlie Kirk’s Widow, but Erika’s Response Was Precious
Trump admin recalling around 30 ambassadors as part of State Dept realignment, official confirms
JD Vance turns Turning Point speech into midterm battle cry — and a preview of 2028
Russian general assassinated in Moscow car bombing
Op-Ed: Conservative Katie? Don’t Be Fooled By Katie Hobbs’ New Tax Plan
Watch: JD Vance Gets Fiery Response from AmFest Crowd After Declaring the U.S. ‘a Christian Nation’
“There is no way to secrete the fact of Jussie Smollett’s arrest. At this point it is widely and publicly known from here to Helsinki and back,” Spears shared, per the Chicago Tribune. “No potential employer, let alone anyone with a pulse, does not know about Jussie Smollett’s arrest at this point.”
Meanwhile, one of Smollett’s attorney, Brian Watson, argued that the actor had a right to privacy afforded to other people.
“The root of this problem is not Mr. Smollett,” Watson shared. “The root of this problem is that the media, Mrs. Spears’ clients, created publicity, and now her clients want to use that against someone who wants to get their rights back.”
As previously reported, the actor initially claimed he was attacked on the streets of his home in Chicago by two men who he said threw a rope around his neck and poured a bleach-like substance on him. They also reportedly yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him.
Congress flees town as health care premiums set to explode for millions of Americans in January
DOJ appeals dismissal of James, Comey criminal cases in long-shot legal gamble
Tragic: Conan O’Brien Could Have Saved Reiners’ Lives if He Hadn’t Ordered Guests Not to Call the Police When Nick Spun Out of Control
Brown University hires former US Attorney Zachary Cunha as possible campus shooting lawsuits loom
Zohran Mamdani Elects to Be Sworn in by Bernie Sanders
Brown University custodian told security suspicious man was ‘casing’ building weeks before shooting: report
Trump-backed Donalds vows to maintain DeSantis ‘trajectory,’ take Florida to ‘whole new level’
DOJ sues DC over restrictive gun laws
McConnell and Shaheen take bipartisan whacks at Biden and Trump over Ukraine strategies
Watch: Mortified Nicki Minaj Goes Speechless for 20 Seconds Straight After Accidental Assassination Joke to Charlie Kirk’s Widow, but Erika’s Response Was Precious
Trump admin recalling around 30 ambassadors as part of State Dept realignment, official confirms
JD Vance turns Turning Point speech into midterm battle cry — and a preview of 2028
Russian general assassinated in Moscow car bombing
Op-Ed: Conservative Katie? Don’t Be Fooled By Katie Hobbs’ New Tax Plan
Watch: JD Vance Gets Fiery Response from AmFest Crowd After Declaring the U.S. ‘a Christian Nation’
However, by the end of the investigation police concluded the attack on the “Empire” star was a hoax. Soon after, he was arrested and faced 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for making a false police report.
Then all charges against him were suddenly dropped by the State Attorney’s office.
The records are expected to be unsealed Thursday.
