Chicago police on Wednesday said they believe that “Empire” star Jussie Smollett made up claims that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack — and evidence against him was being presented to a grand jury.
“Case Update: Jussie Smollett is now officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation by #ChicagoPolice for filing a false police report (Class 4 felony),” police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted.
“Detectives are currently presenting evidence before a Cook County Grand Jury.”
Under Illinois law, Smollett, 36, could face up to three years in prison if charged and convicted of the crime.
The announcement followed a stream of recent reports that increasingly cast doubt on Smollett’s story, including that two Nigerian brothers told investigators Smollett paid them $3,500 to stage the Jan. 29 incident.
It also came about 30 minutes after the siblings, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, were escorted into the grand jury offices at Chicago’s the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
The men were surrounded by about a half-dozen people in civilian clothing as they walked into the secure area on the fourth floor of the courthouse.
On Tuesday, the Osundairos had been about to testify before a grand jury when a last-minute, “Hail Mary” call to the prosecution from Smollett’s lawyers postponed their appearances, according to the local CBS News affiliate.
The defense said it might have new evidence in the case, CBS 2 reported earlier Wednesday.
Smollett, who is black and gay, claims that he was attacked around 2 a.m. near his apartment building in Chicago’s swank Streeterville neighborhood by two men who called him “Empire f—-t n—-r”, doused him with a liquid believed to be bleach and looped a rope around his neck.
Smollett also told detectives that the men shouted “MAGA country,” an apparent reference to President Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” slogan.
The Osundairo brothers were arrested Feb. 13 but released without charges two days later.
Reports have said they told cops Smollett paid them $3,500 to fake the incident and that he orchestrated the hoax because a supposed death threat he received through the mail a week later didn’t get enough attention.
A report Tuesday said the feds were investigating whether Smollett was behind the alleged death threat mailed to him at the Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, where TV’s “Empire” is shot.
An envelope addressed to him — and with “MAGA” written in the upper left-hand corner — contained a letter that said, “You will die black f-g” and showed a crudely drawn stick figure hanging from a tree.
The envelope also contained a powdery white substance that was determined to be acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol.
Speculation had swirled that Smollett concocted the attack because he thought he was about to be written off the show — a rumor that was adamantly denied by 20th Century Fox TV and Fox Entertainment.
The actor has denied having any part in the incident.