UPDATED: 2:21 p.m. ET, March 26, 2019

Jussie Smollett charges dropped

Jussie Smollett, an actor of the popular tv show “Empire” was indicted earlier this month on a total of 16 different felony counts after authorities claimed the star filed false reports of a crime against him.

The prosecutor charged Smollett, 36, with a total of 16 counts of disorderly conduct.

In January, the actor reported to the law enforcement that he was attacked in Chicago in an incident that accumulated with a noose around his neck. The police of Chicago investigated the case and reported it as a possible hate crime.

The indictment stated that Smollett explained to the authorities that he was assaulted by two men who shouted homophobic and racial slurs at him during the attack which took place at 2 a.m.

After the police detained the two related suspects by the police in mid-February, police officials released a statement to the public stating that they suspected Smollett knew both men and had supposedly paid the men $3,500 to stage the attack against him. The men were later released without being charged.

As of today, the charges were dropped against Smollett. Jussie Smollett’s attorney, Patricia Brown just spoke directly to the media today at the Cook County courthouse.

“Today as you have figured out, the state made a motion to drop the charges against Jussie Smollett and to seal the record in this case,” she told reporters.

She continued, “We believe that it was the correct result in this case. We’re very happy for this result. And we are very anxious for Jussie to get on with his career and his life and to move forward.”

At a post-hearing press conference, Jussie Smollett’s attorney, Patricia Brown claims that the state made a final legal decision to seal all records and drop the charges against Smollett.

She exclaimed it was not part of a “deferred prosecution” and there “is no deal.”

Holmes pled to the Chicago Police to “not to jump ahead and utilize the press to convict people before they are tried in a court of law.”

Smollett addressed himself as a “man of faith” and exclaimed that he wanted to move on with his life.

The Attorney’s office of Cook County did not immediately explain as to why exactly the 16 total counts of felony disorderly conduct were dropped against Smollett today other than it having to do with the reviewed facts of the case and observing Smollett’s agreement to pay his bond of $10,000.

The cases parts are sealed, one of Smollett’s attorneys said.

“I want to thank my family, my friends, the incredible people of Chicago and all over the country and the world who have prayed for me, who have supported me.”