The case was filed two weeks after all charges against the actor were dropped.
The city of Chicago is suing actor Jussie Smollett for $130,000 to cover the cost of the investigation into his alleged assault. Police initially investigated the incident, before charging the actor for filing a false report. The charges against him were later dropped.
In the lawsuit filed, it states: “The CPD [Chicago Police Department] expended significant resources investigating Defendant’s false report of a high-profile hate crime and physical assault.
“Over two dozen CPD officers and detectives participated in the investigation, ultimately spending weeks investigating Defendant’s false statements.”
It adds: “During the course of CPD’s investigation into Defendant’s false statements, CPD has incurred 1,836 overtime hours, which resulted in the City paying $130,106.15 in overtime pay as result of Defendant ’s false statements.
The lawsuit is seeking a $1,000 fine against Smollett for each alleged false statement, and for damages covering the amount of overtime paid.
Although Smollett is yet to respond to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for him said: “It is the Mayor and the Police Chief who owe Jussie – owe him an apology – for dragging an innocent man’s character through the mud.
“Jussie has paid enough.”
After the charges against Smollett were dropped he told reporters: “I want to thank my family, my friends, the incredible people of Chicago, and people all over the country and the world who have prayed for me, supported me and shown me so much love.
“No one will ever know how much that has meant to me, and I will forever be grateful. I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one. I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I was accused of.
“This has been an incredibly difficult time, honestly one of the worst of my entire life, but I am a man who has faith and knowledge of our history, and I would not bring my family, our lives and the movement through a fire like this. I just wouldn’t.”
He added: “I’d like nothing more than to get back to work and move on with my life, but make no mistakes, I will always continue to fight for justice, equality and the betterment of marginalised people everywhere.”
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