Edward Wodnick, commander of the area central detective division, detailed the Chicago police department's extensive investigation into Jussie Smollett's hate crime allegations.
Here's a brief timeline:
Asked what he thought would be justice in this case, police superintendent Eddie Johnson said an apology to the city would be a start.
Johnson pointed out, multiple times, the man-hours Chicago police poured into this case, and police were "pissed" when they learned Jussie Smollett's true motive.
Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson said he hasn't seen the entire interview "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett did with ABC's "Good Morning America" — but he said the parts he did see were "shameful."
In the interview, Smollett said he was "forever changed" by the incident and was "pissed off" by both the attack and the doubt that has been cast over his story.
He described the alleged attack and said one of the attackers said, "'This MAGA country, n****r'" during the incident.
Jussie Smollett spoke to his alleged attackers "an hour or so" before the incident and after, according to Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson, who was citing phone records.
Smollett reportedly paid the men, who are two brothers, to stage the attack in Chicago. One of the brothers works on the show "Empire" with Smollett.
Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson said his department was "pissed off" when they discovered Jussie Smollett's actual motive.
Moments ago, Johnson said the "Empire" actor staged the attack on himself because he was unhappy with his salary. Smollett was treated as a victim until police learned more details, Johnson said.
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Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson said police did not give Jussie Smollett's reported hate crime any extra attention or effort — officers treated it the way they treat every hate crime.
"Any time a hate crime is reported in the city of Chicago, it gets the same attention. This didn't get any special attention. You all gave this more attention specifically than we do," he said, referring to the media while speaking to reporters at a news conference.
Johnson added that police "didn't pull resources from shootings or homicide investigations" in order to investigate Smollett's report. Those officers work on different teams, he said.
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According to Chicago police, Jussie Smollett paid $3,500 to two brothers to stage an attack.
The alleged attack went down on the street. The two men, who were wearing gloves, punched Smollett "a little bit," superintendent Eddie Johnson said.
However, the scratches and bruises on his face were likely self-inflicted, according to Johnson.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel just released a statement on the Smollett investigation:
"I want to thank all of the Chicago police officers who have worked on this case, and all of the private citizens and business owners who have stepped forward with information and video evidence to help us get to the bottom of what was reported as a hate crime.
All across Chicago, in every neighborhood, there are signs in front yards and in windows that read, "Hate Has No Home Here." It is a sign that expresses our shared values and defines our great city. Chicago's message to the world is that no matter where you come from, who you love, or how you pray you will always have a home here. Our laws exist to reflect and defend those values, and hate crimes will never be tolerated. A single individual who put their perceived self-interest ahead of these shared principles will never trump Chicago's collective spirit."
Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson said "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett staged the alleged attack because he was "dissatisfied with his salary."
Smollett first "attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language," an apparent reference to a letter sent to the "Empire" set in the days before the attack.
"When that didn't work, Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack and drag Chicago's reputation through the mud in the process," Johnson said. "And why? The stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary. So he concocted a story about being attacked."
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