CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago will continue in its efforts to recover the cost of the investigation into claims by former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack.
Chicago police say the alleged attack on Smollett was staged, and he was charged with making a false report. Prosecutors dropped the case in March.
Smollett’s attorneys this week claimed the actor’s $10,000 payment after the close of a criminal case should prevent Chicago from seeking reimbursement for a police investigation. On Tuesday, they filed a counterclaim against the city, accusing Chicago of malicious prosecution that caused humiliation and extreme distress.
Bill McCaffrey, the spokesman for Chicago’s law department, says the presiding judge has already ruled in the city’s favor and that officials “expect to be successful in defeating these counterclaims.”
