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.
This Is How Terror Spreads: 3 Australian Women Back from Syria Face Slavery, Terrorism Charges
Supreme Court’s junior justice goes on solo tear as Trump fights put her at odds with the bench
Mayor Overruled After He Dissolved Entire Police Force Following Dispute with His Wife
AOC, asked about running for president, says her ambition is ‘way bigger than that’
Where Trump, GOP vs Democrats redistricting battle heads next in wake of key court rulings
Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure
Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store
Alabama mother sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute
Trump warns college sports could be ‘lost forever’ as committee pushes changes, Congress urged to act
Duffys fire back after Pete Buttigieg, husband attack new road trip TV series: ‘Radical, miserable left’
Breathtaking ‘Chandelier UFO’ Video Goes Viral – But Is There a Simple Explanation?
Nearly a dozen injured after possible boat explosion at popular Florida tourist destination
Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary
Breaking: Bobby Cox, Manager of Braves ‘Teams That Ruled NL,’ Dead at 84
Two police officers shot, suspect ‘actively firing at police’ in Syracuse standoff lasting hours: report
“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.
This Is How Terror Spreads: 3 Australian Women Back from Syria Face Slavery, Terrorism Charges
Supreme Court’s junior justice goes on solo tear as Trump fights put her at odds with the bench
Mayor Overruled After He Dissolved Entire Police Force Following Dispute with His Wife
AOC, asked about running for president, says her ambition is ‘way bigger than that’
Where Trump, GOP vs Democrats redistricting battle heads next in wake of key court rulings
Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure
Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store
Alabama mother sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute
Trump warns college sports could be ‘lost forever’ as committee pushes changes, Congress urged to act
Duffys fire back after Pete Buttigieg, husband attack new road trip TV series: ‘Radical, miserable left’
Breathtaking ‘Chandelier UFO’ Video Goes Viral – But Is There a Simple Explanation?
Nearly a dozen injured after possible boat explosion at popular Florida tourist destination
Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary
Breaking: Bobby Cox, Manager of Braves ‘Teams That Ruled NL,’ Dead at 84
Two police officers shot, suspect ‘actively firing at police’ in Syracuse standoff lasting hours: report
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.









