We’re finally seeing the police body-cam footage from shortly after the alleged racist and homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett took place back in January.
The Chicago Police Department released almost 70 hours of surveillance footage on Monday, including a video showing authorities entering the Empire star’s Chicago apartment, where he was found with a rope strung around his neck that he claimed was part of the attack.
As the actor explains to officers in the footage, he kept the rope on his neck because he “just wanted you all to see it.”
Related: Donald Trump Is Lashing Out At Jussie Again
Once Smollett learns that the officers are recording him via body cam, he asks that the cameras be turned off, telling them:
“I don’t want to be filmed.”
The 37-year-old’s manager is also seen in the footage, though both their faces are blurred, and can be heard insisting to cops that Jussie didn’t want to make the incident a “big deal.” Later, the manager is heard telling officers he was upset over the fact that the attackers placed a makeshift noose around his client’s neck.
Elsewhere in the newly released footage, Smollet’s alleged attackers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, are shown being arrested immediately upon returning from Nigeria.
The footage dump comes days after a judge decided to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the decision by Cook County prosecutors to dismiss all charges against Smollett, who was accused by Chicago P.D. of lying to authorities by claiming he was the victim of a hate crime attack in downtown Chicago.
Following Friday’s order, police also released nearly 1,200 different individual files on the case, including thousands of pages of documents, arrest reports, and handwritten notes from the police. There are about 90 hours of video footage in total, much of which is from surveillance cameras high above Chicago’s streets.
Related: Nigerian Brothers Sue Jussie’s Legal Team For Defamation
As we reported, Chicago P.D. was shocked after the 16 felony charges against the 37-year-old were dropped back in March — a decision that prompted the City of Chicago to file a civil lawsuit against the actor to recoup $130,000 in overtime costs stemming from the high-profile investigation.
Police allege the star staged the attack in an effort to generate publicity because he was dissatisfied with his Empire salary. Thanks to the scandal, it now appears he’s been cut from the show entirely.
Earlier this month, series creator Lee Daniels tweeted Jussie would not be reprising his role in the FOX drama. In response to a report that said Empire’s writers were preparing for the actor’s return on the show’s sixth and final season, Daniels wrote:
“This is not factual. Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire.”
As we reported, Smollett could eventually face new charges if the special prosecutor determines that to be necessary.
We’ll see if anything comes from this newly released footage — which you can watch for yourself (below).
[Image via WENN]
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