Judge Orders Smollet Records Unsealed

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.

‘Squad’ rakes in record $2.35M while slamming the door on cop donations

Haley Stevens appears alongside GOP rival Mike Rogers at Detroit church

Revealing Detail Found Buried in ‘Ilhan Omar’ Memoir: She Was Taught at a Young Age to Lie About Her Family

Tech Titan Blasted for Using AI to Come up With 3 Things That Makes Her Daughter Special on Her 10th Birthday

Wyoming mom reported missing after not picking up kids; sister, police search for answers

Watch: YouTuber Separates Conjoined Turtle Twins, Ends with ‘Heartbreaking’ Result

Cops raid West Virginia frat houses in hazing probe as growing crackdown should be ‘wake-up call’: expert

Unexpected State with Dem Governor Is Ranked the Freest in America: Study

Americans forced to change clocks again as Senate stalls Trump-backed daylight saving time bill

Everything to know about House and Senate control, ballot measures and 2026 Election Day poll closing

Future of MAHA and anti-abortion policy hinges on Roger Marshall’s election chances

‘Free Instacart for Welfare Queens’: California Begins Sending Out Luxury Food Boxes at Taxpayers’ Expense

California Mayor Allegedly Followed, Harassed, Blocked Car of Random Man She Thought Was ICE

Chuck Klosterman’s ‘Rock*’ is an exercise in fantastical pointlessness

Skilled trades now offer direct path to six-figure pay without college debt thanks to emerging tech industry

“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.