The former 'Empire' actor is accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself and falsely reporting it to police.
has repeatedly denied police allegations that he staged the attack to get attention and further his career.
Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men attacked him as he was walking home in theHe said they made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing, and that at least one of his attackers was a white man who told him he was in “MAGA country,” a reference to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.
The friends, brothers Abimbola “Abel” Osundairo and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo, were among those who attended Monday’s proceedings. If Smollett’s case makes it to trial, they would be the state’s star witnesses. The brothers are bodybuilders and aspiring actors whom Smollett knew from the “Empire” set and the gym.
Their attorney, Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, told reporters after the hearing that the brothers were there to “support the process.”“They are here because they want the truth to be told,” she said. “The brothers are sorry for their involvement.”“There was no reason for them to appear in court,” she said.
Glandian has questioned the integrity of special prosecutor’s investigation, pointing out that Webb’s probe relied on the same detectives who were part of the original investigation despite pending civil claims that Smollett is pursuing against the city and police for malicious prosecution.
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