What Happened to Jussie Smollett? Here Are All of His Case’s Developments
February 1
Through his publicist, Jussie Smollett releases his first public comments about the attack.
“My body is strong but my soul is stronger,” the statement says, according to The New York Times. “More importantly, I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words.”
Responding to those who have raised suspicions about his claims, Smollett adds that his account had been “100 percent factual and consistent on every level,” and that he is cooperating with authorities.
“Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served,” the statement says.
February 2
In his first public appearance since the alleged attack, Smollett performs at a concert at the Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood.
“I have so many words on my heart that I want to say, but the most important thing I can say is thank you so much, and that I’m O.K.,” Smollett tells the audience, according to The New York Times. The Times reports that several attendees said that they had bought tickets to the concert specifically to show their support for Smollett.
February 11
Smollett hands over redacted phone records to police. Police later say that the files are too significantly altered to be useful for the investigation.
Smollett later issues a statement to say that the files had been redacted to “protect the privacy of personal contacts or high-profile individuals not relevant to the attack.”
February 13
Two men, who are described as Nigerian brothers, are picked up by police in connection with the investigation at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Smollett’s attorneys later acknowledge that one of the men is Smollett’s personal trainer, who they say had been hired to help the actor prepare for a music video.
February 14
Speaking to Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, Smollett says that he was “forever changed” by the attack.
He adds that he is “pissed off” that some people doubt his version of the attack.
“It’s not necessarily that you don’t believe that this is the truth. You don’t even want to see the truth,” Smollett says.
The police also announce that they are questioning the two “persons of interest” arrested at O’Hare, who they say had been recorded on surveillance cameras near the attack. The two men are not suspects, but are being questioned because they might have been in the area of the attack during the incident, police say.
Later that night, the Chicago Police Department officially disputes news reports citing police sources who claimed the attack was a hoax, saying that the “supposed CPD sources are uninformed and inaccurate.”
February 15
Police announce that they have released the two Nigerian brothers without charges. A police spokesperson says that investigators have uncovered new evidence, and that “detectives have additional investigative work to complete.”
February 16
Chicago Police say that they intend to interview Smollett again.
Smollett’s lawyers said in a statement to CNN that the actor felt “further victimized” by accusations that the assault was a hoax.
“Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying,” the statement says.
February 17
Police say that they’re still trying to interview Smollett because the direction of the investigation has “shifted.” One of Smollett’s spokespeople declines to comment on whether Smollett had consented to another interview.
“We’re not confirming, denying or commenting on anything until we can talk to him and we can corroborate some information that we’ve gotten,” a police spokesperson says.
February 18
Smollett’s attorneys say that there aren’t plans for the actor to meet with police for a follow-up interview. A spokesperson for the lawyers says that they “will keep an active dialogue with Chicago police on his behalf,” according to a statement sent to the Associated Press.
February 19
Chicago police are looking into a tip that Smollett was seen in an elevator in his apartment building on the night of his alleged attack with the two brothers that police had arrested and released, a department spokesperson told the Associated Press. Investigators have not verified the claim, but intend to interview the person who gave them the tip.
This article originally appeared on Time. For more stories like this, visit time.com.
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