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.
Police rescue 60 cats and kittens from abandoned sailboat off Washington beach after 6-day operation
Ex-officer accused in New Orleans mass shooting plot released without charges
Lifelong Lib Chris Matthews Goes Scorched Earth on Far-Left Dems, DSA Members: ‘I’m Not with This Crowd’
Convicted rapist who preyed on women at America’s top party school faces reckoning after courthouse dash
LA Lakers Sold to Ex-Disney CEO and Jared Kushner’s Brother for Record-Breaking Price
Texas judge accused of ‘doxxing’ political critic faces federal lawsuit, growing push to oust him from office
Unearthed interview exposes Dem senator’s past support for reparations: ‘There is a debt unpaid’
Always Watch the Eyes: Video Shows DSA Co-Chair Fall Apart When Asked Exactly Who She Wants to Tax More
DOJ Busts Massive International Sham Marriage Scheme, 1,000 Weddings to ‘Fraudulently Obtain Immigration Status’
ICE eyes $20M purchase of electric shock gloves as Hochul warns of legal consequences
FBI ran secret operation to extinguish Biden family foreign influence scandal: Declassified documents
Fox News Poll: New matchup, same result: Maine Senate race stays locked
Here’s who could replace White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt
New York Social Services Worker Charged With Issuing Multiple Benefit Cards to Herself
Hasan Piker cheers Mamdani aide going ‘beast mode’ with ‘impoverish the White middle-class’ remark
“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.
Police rescue 60 cats and kittens from abandoned sailboat off Washington beach after 6-day operation
Ex-officer accused in New Orleans mass shooting plot released without charges
Lifelong Lib Chris Matthews Goes Scorched Earth on Far-Left Dems, DSA Members: ‘I’m Not with This Crowd’
Convicted rapist who preyed on women at America’s top party school faces reckoning after courthouse dash
LA Lakers Sold to Ex-Disney CEO and Jared Kushner’s Brother for Record-Breaking Price
Texas judge accused of ‘doxxing’ political critic faces federal lawsuit, growing push to oust him from office
Unearthed interview exposes Dem senator’s past support for reparations: ‘There is a debt unpaid’
Always Watch the Eyes: Video Shows DSA Co-Chair Fall Apart When Asked Exactly Who She Wants to Tax More
DOJ Busts Massive International Sham Marriage Scheme, 1,000 Weddings to ‘Fraudulently Obtain Immigration Status’
ICE eyes $20M purchase of electric shock gloves as Hochul warns of legal consequences
FBI ran secret operation to extinguish Biden family foreign influence scandal: Declassified documents
Fox News Poll: New matchup, same result: Maine Senate race stays locked
Here’s who could replace White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt
New York Social Services Worker Charged With Issuing Multiple Benefit Cards to Herself
Hasan Piker cheers Mamdani aide going ‘beast mode’ with ‘impoverish the White middle-class’ remark
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.
