Just when we thought the whole Jussie Smollett debacle was done and done, the city of Chicago has announced it will file a lawsuit against the Empire actor in an attempt to recoup expenses for the cost of investigating his alleged late-night attack.
On January 29, Smollett filed a police report alleging he was assaulted by two masked men who beat him, poured an unknown liquid over his head and put a noose around his neck – all while reportedly shouting homophobic and racist slurs.
As reported on Instinct, the investigation eventually turned its focus to Smollett, and he was charged with 16 counts of filing a false police report.
On March 26, however, the charges were abruptly dropped.
Two days later, the city sent the 36-year-old actor a bill for $130,106 for expenses related to the police investigation.
Smollett apparently has no interest in paying the bill.
Via Variety:
“Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on Jan. 29, 2019,” the city said. “The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County… The Law Department will file the suit in the near future. As part of this legal action, the Law Department will pursue the full measure of damages allowed under the ordinance.”
Smollett maintains he is innocent.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Smollett’s attorney, Mark Geragos, fired off a letter to city officials informing them his client “will not be intimidated into paying the demanded sum.”
No word from producers at Empire on whether Smollett will return to the series. While the show wrote him out of the final two episodes for this season, his co-star Taraji P. Henson recently told the ladies at The View she expects to see him back next season.
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