2 Questioned In Jussie Smollett Attack Now Released: Police

CHICAGO — Two men who were considered suspects in the attack on "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett have been released, Chicago police said. The men were arrested friday after detectives said they may have been involved in the crime, according to police. No charges were laid.

“Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging,” Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi posted on Twitter Friday evening. “Detectives have additional investigative work to complete.”

The two men are brothers from Nigeria, police said. The men were picked up by officers at O'Hare on Wednesday after a return flight from their country. Officers also searched the pair's home. Police said at least one of the brothers worked on "Empire."

A report by ABC 7 Chicago posted Thursday claimed that police were investigating whether Smollett staged the attack. Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the claim is "unconfirmed by case detectives," and that CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson contacted ABC 7 "to state on the record that we have no evidence to support their reporting and their supposed CPD sources are uninformed and inaccurate."

The report claimed the attack was staged because Smollett was being written off "Empire;" however, according to a statement obtained by WGN, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment have denied the claim. The producers said the actor "remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him."

Police said Smollett was walking in the 300 block of E. North Water Street at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 29, when two men wearing ski masks yelled homophobic and racial slurs and began beating the actor. They doused him with a chemical, believed to be bleach, and wrapped a rope around his neck, police said.

Smollett said the men called out "This is MAGA country" while attacking him. Smollett's music manager confirmed that he was on the phone with the actor at the time of the reported attack and heard the men yelling the phrase.

Nearly two weeks after the attack, Smollett handed over redacted phone records in a PDF to police.

More Patch coverage:

• Smollett Explains His Redacted Phone Records
• CPD Won't Demand Jussie Smollett Turn Over Cellphone
• Photos Show Persons Of Interest In Jussie Smollett Chicago Attack
• Stars React After 'Empire' Actor Attacked In Possible Hate Crime
• More Security On 'Empire' Set As Jussie Smollett Returns To Work

Top image: Actor and singer Jussie Smollett attends the Fox Networks Group 2018 programming presentation after party at Wollman Rink in Central Park on Monday, May 14, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)