the indictment coming a month before the election, saying it "can only be interpreted as the further politicization of the justice system."

A lawyer for the two brothers who said Smollett paid to stage the attack — Abel and Ola Osundairo — said they are "fully committed to the public knowing the truth" and will continue to cooperate with investigators.

Tina Glandian, Smollett's attorney, slammed the indictment in a statement to CBS News.

"This indictment raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation that led to the renewed charges against Mr. Smollett, not the least of which is the use of the same CPD detectives who were part of the original investigation into the attack on Mr. Smollett to conduct the current investigation, despite Mr. Smollett's pending civil claims againstthe City of Chicago and CPD officers for malicious prosecution," Glandian said. "And one of the two witnesses who testified before the grand jury is the very same detective Mr. Smollett is currently suing for his role in the initial prosecution of him."

"After more than five months of investigation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has not found any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever related to the dismissal of the charges against Mr. Smollett," Glandian added. "Rather, the charges were appropriately dismissed the first time because they were not supported by the evidence. The attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State's Attorney election is clearly all about politics not justice."