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.
Hero High School Principal Takes a Bullet to Stop School Shooter
DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Into Cassidy Hutchinson, Democrats’ Star Jan. 6 Witness: Report
Top school district slapped with complaint alleging ‘elaborate system’ to keep kids’ gender transitions secret
Fox News Poll: Record number say taxes are too high; government spending seen as wasteful
Suspect accused of killing Iryna Zarutska ‘incapable to proceed’ on his charge
Video: ‘In the Name of Allah’ – Man with Knife Arrested in Ohio for Threatening to Kill Father, Then Chasing His Unsuspecting Daughter
Charlotte light-rail murder suspect ruled incompetent to stand trial as history of crazed claims trails case
Top GOP hawk Graham warns Iran deal has ‘troubling aspects’ as ceasefire begins
JD Vance’s Task Force Uncovers $6 Billion in Potential Fraud, Begins Taking Action: Report
Trump admin scores Minnesota court win in Medicaid fraud crackdown
Shapiro tells Democrats to move past anti-Trump rhetoric at Al Sharpton’s confab
Ex-paramedic accused of drip-feeding wife to death—then faking his own kidnapping when heat turned up
Hungarian success in befriending American conservatives on display as Orban faces down possible defeat
Dem Senate nominee distances herself from Kamala Harris ahead of visit: ‘Will not be attending’
Rex Heuermann, suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, pleads guilty to seven killings
“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.
Hero High School Principal Takes a Bullet to Stop School Shooter
DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Into Cassidy Hutchinson, Democrats’ Star Jan. 6 Witness: Report
Top school district slapped with complaint alleging ‘elaborate system’ to keep kids’ gender transitions secret
Fox News Poll: Record number say taxes are too high; government spending seen as wasteful
Suspect accused of killing Iryna Zarutska ‘incapable to proceed’ on his charge
Video: ‘In the Name of Allah’ – Man with Knife Arrested in Ohio for Threatening to Kill Father, Then Chasing His Unsuspecting Daughter
Charlotte light-rail murder suspect ruled incompetent to stand trial as history of crazed claims trails case
Top GOP hawk Graham warns Iran deal has ‘troubling aspects’ as ceasefire begins
JD Vance’s Task Force Uncovers $6 Billion in Potential Fraud, Begins Taking Action: Report
Trump admin scores Minnesota court win in Medicaid fraud crackdown
Shapiro tells Democrats to move past anti-Trump rhetoric at Al Sharpton’s confab
Ex-paramedic accused of drip-feeding wife to death—then faking his own kidnapping when heat turned up
Hungarian success in befriending American conservatives on display as Orban faces down possible defeat
Dem Senate nominee distances herself from Kamala Harris ahead of visit: ‘Will not be attending’
Rex Heuermann, suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, pleads guilty to seven killings
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.
