Cops release bodycam footage of actor Jussie Smollett in noose after 'attack'

Charlie De Mar
CBS News
Mon, 24 Jun 2019 17:08 UTC

The Chicago Police Department has released body cam footage from the morning after Jussie Smollett's alleged attack, showing the actor still wearing a noose around his neck which he claimed was used in the assault.

The footage was filmed in the ex-Empire actor's Chicago home back in January at 8:45am local time, some seven hours after he was allegedly subjected to a racist and homophoic attack in a nearby street.

The bodycam captured the officers entering the home and speaking to Frank Gatson, who introduces himself as the actor's "creative director," while Smollett can be seen wearing a thin white rope around his neck.

"Do you want to take it off or anything?," the police officer asks, referring to the noose. Smollet replies: "Yeah I do, I just wanted you to see it." The officers are asked to switch off their cameras shortly after.

The video is part of hundreds of files released by the Chicago PD after a judge ordered a special prosecutor to examine the handling of Smollett's accusation. The actor could face a fresh criminal prosecution for his role in the saga, depending upon the outcome of the investigation.

Smollett claimed he was randomly attacked, punched, and doused in bleach by two masked men who he claimed made reference to President Donald Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again.'

The incident sparked widespread outcry amongst the LGBTQ community, African-Americans, and some Democrats as well as the Hollywood elite. However, two weeks later the tables turned when two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, arrested for carrying out the attack, said the entire thing was orchestrated and paid for by Smollett.

Three weeks after the 'attack' Smollett himself was arrested and charged with filing a false police report. At the time Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Smollett "took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career."

A month later the episode took yet another unexpected turn when all charges against the then-fired actor were unceremoniously dropped in lieu of forfeiting his $10,000 bond and carrying out community service.

Smollett continued to maintain his innocence, but the drama didn't end there. In March, Chicago Police ordered him to pay $130,000 to cover the cost of investigating the case. When Smollett refused, the amount was tripled in a lawsuit filed by the city in April. Smollett's legal team is also facing litigation, this time from the Osundairo brothers, who claim their reputation was damaged in the melee.

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Reader Comments

Patrick2017 · 2019-06-25T19:37:36Z

What a cheep ass rope around Smollett neck, I don’t think you could hang a dog with that rope. I’m sure it would break first try. The two brothers should have gone on line and looked up a real hanging noose and rope just like they used in the old days. More convincing wouldn’t you think.

Illusionoffreedom · 2019-06-25T20:36:05Z

POOOOOO Jussssssiieeeeeeee!...

He just wanted a sammich' at 2am

Rowan Cocoan · 2019-06-25T20:57:05Z

A little more proof of disinformation they've been calling that cheap twine (it looks like the loose nylon threaded stuff that always comes unwound unless you melt seal the ends.

Likewise, it appears that no one knows how to tie a hangman's noose any more, which to be done correctly should at least be 33/8 or 1/2" rope.

Simple to make - like the fourth knot I learned . . . IN BOY SCOUTS!!!

To make a H.M. noose, you run the rope parallel in a compacted 'S' made of not two but three turns,

wrap 13 loops around center, etc. (Look it up online.) Whatever - and only in AmeriKant would this event not have destroyed his career. ARGH!

R.C.

Rowan Cocoan · 2019-06-25T20:57:56Z

Rowan Cocoan Oops, they've been calling that 1/8" 1/4" line/twine 'ROPE!" What a joke!

R.C.

Nada · 2019-06-25T21:32:36Z

"took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career." You can replace some words in that sentence and it will still hold true:

"took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote their new world order agenda."

ClintWestwood · 2019-06-25T21:58:17Z

That rope looks like the sort used to tie back curtain swatches. And I don't see any bleach stains on him. He lied, of course, but he said he was attacked, noosed, bleached, then the vid shows him safe and sound back in his apartment when the cops get there. That woman who let him off the hook needs to be dismissed from office and prosecuted.