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.
Florida property owners pestered by spying drones could soon be allowed to fight back with ‘force’
Self-defense claim in Austin Metcalf slaying is ‘uphill battle’: expert
Ohio pastor injured, man killed, in ‘freak accident’ on way home from Bible study
Trump administration plans to pull $1 billion in funding from Harvard amid clash with university: report
Deported illegal alien and suspected MS-13 gang member transferred from notorious El Salvadoran mega-prison
Trump hopeful Russia and Ukraine can make a deal after temporary Easter ceasefire ends
David Hogg donates $100K to DCCC after plan to primary ‘ineffective’ Democrats ignited civil war in party
Climate Nutjobs Target Pet Dogs for Being ‘Environmental Villains’
So Close, Yet So Far: Jimmy Kimmel Actually Nails 1 Reason Trump’s Winning
Dems left with egg on their face as DNC appears to snub Biden on Easter
Alito blasts ‘unprecedented’ SCOTUS move to halt Trump’s Venezuelan deportations: ‘Legally questionable’
Axed Pentagon aides claim their character was ‘slandered,’ little details were shared about leak investigation
People Tune in to ‘The View,’ Get Second Best News Possible on That Brain-Dead Liberal Lovefest
Police take down stabbing, arson suspect at Maryland’s National Harbor
Jasmine Crockett slammed for comparing Trump to MS-13 member: ‘Complete lunatic’
“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.
Florida property owners pestered by spying drones could soon be allowed to fight back with ‘force’
Self-defense claim in Austin Metcalf slaying is ‘uphill battle’: expert
Ohio pastor injured, man killed, in ‘freak accident’ on way home from Bible study
Trump administration plans to pull $1 billion in funding from Harvard amid clash with university: report
Deported illegal alien and suspected MS-13 gang member transferred from notorious El Salvadoran mega-prison
Trump hopeful Russia and Ukraine can make a deal after temporary Easter ceasefire ends
David Hogg donates $100K to DCCC after plan to primary ‘ineffective’ Democrats ignited civil war in party
Climate Nutjobs Target Pet Dogs for Being ‘Environmental Villains’
So Close, Yet So Far: Jimmy Kimmel Actually Nails 1 Reason Trump’s Winning
Dems left with egg on their face as DNC appears to snub Biden on Easter
Alito blasts ‘unprecedented’ SCOTUS move to halt Trump’s Venezuelan deportations: ‘Legally questionable’
Axed Pentagon aides claim their character was ‘slandered,’ little details were shared about leak investigation
People Tune in to ‘The View,’ Get Second Best News Possible on That Brain-Dead Liberal Lovefest
Police take down stabbing, arson suspect at Maryland’s National Harbor
Jasmine Crockett slammed for comparing Trump to MS-13 member: ‘Complete lunatic’
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.