Singer and former Empire star Jussie Smollett was indicted Tuesday in Chicago on six counts of disorderly conduct in connection with an attack he allegedly staged in January 2019.
Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb said, in a release, he believes it is "in the interest of justice" to pursue charges against Smollett, who is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 24.
Smollett was arrested a year ago in Chicago and accused of staging an assault in which, he claimed, two men used racial and anti-gay slurs and put a rope around his neck.
On March 8, he was indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly hiring brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo for $3,500 U.S. to attack him on a street near his home. Smollett pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Weeks later, all charges against Smollett were dropped and Cook County Circuit Judge Steven G. Watkins ordered that the records in the case be sealed.
According to First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats, the decision to drop the charges “should not be viewed as some kind of admission there was something wrong with the case, or something wrong with the investigation that the Chicago Police did.”
Outside court, Smollett maintained his innocence. "I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one," he told reporters, "I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I've been accused of.”
He added: "This has been an incredibly difficult time, honestly one of the worst of my entire life."