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.
MAGA Right sours on Thune over SAVE Act fight
How Trump’s ICE Built Nationwide Police Alliance Right Under Democrats’ Noses
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: Thune Should Use This Trick to Get the SAVE Act Passed
DHS shutdown drags into week two as Iran threat, SOTU clash complicate Hill talks
Who is Abigail Spanberger, and why did Democrats choose her for to their State of the Union response?
Trump invites US men’s hockey team to attend State of the Union speech
Greenland rejects Trump’s hospital ship: ‘No thanks’
‘It’s hidden’: Female genital mutilation and the secret shame of Minnesota’s Somalis
Greenland rejects Trump’s hospital ship proposal, citing existing free healthcare system
USA Men’s Hockey Wins First Gold Medal Since 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’
AOC blames critics, Trump after Munich hiccup backlash
President Trump tells Netflix to fire Susan Rice or ‘pay consequences’
Rafter vanishes in Oregon wilderness, survives five-day ordeal before helicopter rescue
Zohran Mamdani declares NYC emergency, bans all travel during blizzard threatening city
Why keeping lawmakers in DC during shutdown may have caused more harm than good
“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.
MAGA Right sours on Thune over SAVE Act fight
How Trump’s ICE Built Nationwide Police Alliance Right Under Democrats’ Noses
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: Thune Should Use This Trick to Get the SAVE Act Passed
DHS shutdown drags into week two as Iran threat, SOTU clash complicate Hill talks
Who is Abigail Spanberger, and why did Democrats choose her for to their State of the Union response?
Trump invites US men’s hockey team to attend State of the Union speech
Greenland rejects Trump’s hospital ship: ‘No thanks’
‘It’s hidden’: Female genital mutilation and the secret shame of Minnesota’s Somalis
Greenland rejects Trump’s hospital ship proposal, citing existing free healthcare system
USA Men’s Hockey Wins First Gold Medal Since 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’
AOC blames critics, Trump after Munich hiccup backlash
President Trump tells Netflix to fire Susan Rice or ‘pay consequences’
Rafter vanishes in Oregon wilderness, survives five-day ordeal before helicopter rescue
Zohran Mamdani declares NYC emergency, bans all travel during blizzard threatening city
Why keeping lawmakers in DC during shutdown may have caused more harm than good
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.
