CLOSE Two brothers who said they helped Jussie Smollett stage a racist and homophobic attack against himself are suing the "Empire" actor's attorneys for defamation. (April 23) AP, AP

New documents released by Chicago police Thursday show Jussie Smollett discussing drugs with the two brothers who accused the "Empire" actor of paying them to stage an attack on him.

The texts were among the 460 pages released by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and Chicago Police Department Thursday after a judge ordered Smollett's case file unsealed last week.

The documents show that Smollett initially communicated with Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo “Ola Osundairo about buying marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy before enlisting them to stage his alleged attack on Jan. 29. The brothers later told Chicago police that Smollett paid them to stage the attack on him.

"It was found during the review of these text records that on various occasions Smollett would request that (redacted) procure items for Smollett which Smollett described as weed, molly, or Whitney, which the (case report) was familiar with being slang for cannabis and controlled substances," the documents read. "In particular, weed is slang for cannabis, molly is slang for ecstasy and whitney is slang for cocaine."

More: Chicago detectives knew a Jussie Smollett deal was in the works, new documents show

The report notes that Smollett used the electronic payment methods PayPal and Venmo to pay for the transactions, and that on multiple occasions, Smollett appeared to describe his payment to the brothers for the drugs as payment for "legitimate expenses" like personal training.

“(Expletive), you still got a molly connect?” Smollett texted one of the brothers on Sept. 27, 2018. “Hahahaha… Imma need a good fo pills Haha.”

After completing multiple drug transactions with the brothers, Smollett texted one of them in January, “Might need your help on the low. You around to meet up and talk face to face?”

Following this exchange, the case file alleges that Smollett gave the brothers a check for $3,500, labeled as payment for a “5-week nutrition/workout program," and asked the brothers to pretend to beat him up while calling him homophobic and racial slurs.

After the brothers told detectives about the alleged conspiracy, Smollett was indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct and lying to police, one charge for each time the actor "knowingly" told police that he was the victim of a "battery, a hate crime and an aggravated battery."

After prosecutors suddenly dropped all the charges against him on March 26, Cook County Judge Steve Watkins assented to Smollett's request that his case file be sealed, citing his right to privacy. But media companies, including USA TODAY parent company Gannett, argued that that the actor invalidated those concerns by discussing the case on national television. Watkins agreed two months after putting the case file off limits, he ordered its contents be released.

The unsealed documents, which also included case reports, arrest reports and supplementary files from the investigation revealed that the detectives investigating Smollett were aware there was a potential deal in the works between Smollett and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office to drop the charges a month before it was announced.

At the time, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson blasted the deal, saying the alleged hoax had unnecessarily tied up police personnel and harmed the city’s reputation.

On Thursday, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the detectives did not pass that information to superiors because they assumed – incorrectly, as it turned out – that any deal would include Smollett admitting to wrongdoing.

Instead, after the charges were dropped, Smollett insisted that he had been "truthful and consistent on every single level since Day 1."

Jussie Smollett case timeline:Charges dropped against actor who went from victim to suspect

Contributing: Jorge Ortiz

CLOSE 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a hate-crime attack, was dropped of all charges by prosecutors. How does the FBI define a hate-crime attack? We explain. USA TODAY

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/05/31/jussie-smollett-bought-drugs-brothers-who-attacked-him/1296878001/ </s> Lawyers for Jussie Smollett say charges against him have been dropped

Lawyers for Empire actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack, say all the charges against him have been dropped.

The announcement comes following an "emergency" court appearance in Chicago, according to US media.

Smollett, 36, who is black and openly gay, had been accused of hiring two men to help stage an attack in the early hours of 29 January.

He pleaded not guilty to charges at a hearing earlier this month and had been due to appear in court again on 17 April until today's announcement.

In a statement, Smollett's attorneys Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said his record had now "been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him".

"Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on 29 January," they said. "He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.

"Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions. This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong.

"it is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect.

"Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.

"Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career."

A spokeswoman for Cook County prosecutors did not immediately respond to messages requesting comment.

In his report to police, Smollett said he had been attacked on his way home from a sandwich shop, by two masked men who shouted racial and anti-gay slurs. The men poured bleach on him, beat him and looped a rope around his neck, the actor said.

He claimed they shouted, "This is MAGA country", a reference to President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again campaign slogan.

But police and prosecutors accused him of making a false report because he was unhappy with his pay on Fox show Empire, and wanted to promote his career.

Officers said Smollett paid brothers Abimbola "Abel" and Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo $3,500 (£2,650) to carry out the attack. One of them had worked on Empire.

A lawyer for the brothers had said they agreed to help Smollett because of their friendship and the sense that he was helping their careers.

Police have also said that before the attack, Smollett sent a letter that threatened him to the Chicago studio where Empire is shot.

The FBI, which is investigating that letter, has declined to comment on the investigation. </s> Newly released documents regarding Jussie Smollett's case have revealed text messages in which the Empire star texted the Nigerian brothers asking for drugs.

The messages show Smollett asking either Abel and Ola Osundairo for help to acquire 'good pills' with nicknames revealed to be for cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana.

'N***a you still got a molly connect?' one of his messages from September 27, 2018 reads. 'Imma need a good fo pills hahaha (sic)'.

He then sends a verification code from Venmo, an online payment app.

One of the Nigerian brothers, although it remains unclear which, then replies: 'Got it'.

Smollett asks one of the brothers where they are and asks if they want to bring it to his house.

'You wanna come through? If not I can get it tomorrow,' he writes.

'I'm falling asleep,' one of the brothers responsed. 'You can get it tomorrow.'

Documents state that Smollett and one of the Nigerian brothers began texting on February 24, 2018 and continued through March 15, 2019.

A week later, the Cook County State’s Attorney's Office dropped all charges against Smollett.

The Empire star has found himself in headlines for all the wrong reasons after he was accused of staging a hate crime attack on himself in January.

Text records revealed that there were 'various occasions' in which Smollett would request the Nigerian brother to procure items for him 'described as weed, molly, or Whitney', known slang for marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine.

In July 2018, Smollett and the Nigerian brother exchanged texts regarding him obtaining 'Whitney' and how to pay for it, the documents state.

Payment was arranged via Venmo and Smollett later sent a text stating that he just sent $200.

On August 27, 2018, Smollett requested that the brother obtain weed for him. The price was discussed and Smollett once again paid him through Venmo.

The Chicago Police Department released nearly 500 pages of case reports, arrest files and supplementary files related to Smollett's case on Thursday.

A Cook County judge ordered that the documents in the case be unsealed.

Investigators alleged that Smollett had recruited the Osundairo brothers to stage the hoax attack, hoping it would help him get a salary raise on Empire.

Chicago police said the Osundairo brothers confessed to helping Smollett stage the attack.

Smollett had told cops that he had an untreated drug problem after his arrest.

Smollett responded 'no' when asked about alcohol or mental health problems, according to booking documents. But he may have dropped hints about a drug issue to lay groundwork for a possible defense strategy. </s> Newly released documents regarding Jussie Smollett's case have revealed text messages in which the Empire star texted the Nigerian brothers asking for drugs.

The messages show Smollett asking either Abel and Ola Osundairo for help to acquire 'good pills' with nicknames revealed to be for cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana.

'N***a you still got a molly connect?' one of his messages from September 27, 2018 reads. 'Imma need a good fo pills hahaha (sic)'.

He then sends a verification code from Venmo, an online payment app.

One of the Nigerian brothers, although it remains unclear which, then replies: 'Got it'.

Smollett asks one of the brothers where they are and asks if they want to bring it to his house.

'You wanna come through? If not I can get it tomorrow,' he writes.

'I'm falling asleep,' one of the brothers respons. 'You can get it tomorrow.'

Documents state that Smollett and one of the Nigerian brothers began texting on February 24, 2018 and continued through March 15, 2019.

A week later, the Cook County State’s Attorney's Office dropped all charges against Smollett.

The Empire star has found himself in headlines for all the wrong reasons after he was accused of staging a hate crime attack on himself in January.

Text records revealed that there were 'various occasions' in which Smollett would request the Nigerian brother to procure items for him 'described as weed, molly, or Whitney', known slang for marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine.

In July 2018, Smollett and the Nigerian brother exchanged texts regarding him obtaining 'Whitney' and how to pay for it, the documents state.

Payment was arranged via Venmo and Smollett later sent a text stating that he just sent $200.

On August 27, 2018, Smollett requested that the brother obtain weed for him. The price was discussed and Smollett once again paid him through Venmo. </s> Charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett have been dropped, his lawyers confirmed to Variety.

The actor had been indicted on 16 counts of filing a false police report, stemming from his alleged staging of a Jan. 29 hate attack.

“Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him,” his legal team said in a statement to Variety. “Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement. Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions. This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result. Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career.”

The Cook County Attorney’s Office called the agreement reached an “appropriate resolution to this case” in a statement and cited the actor’s past charitable work in the community as factors in the dismissal. Smollett also forfeited his $10,000 bond payment to the city, per prosecutors. Law enforcement officials had criticized the actor for allegedly filing a false police report that required time and resources from the Chicago Police Department.

The Smollett family released a statement saying that “this morning truth has prevailed.”

“Our son and brother is an innocent man whose name and character has been unjustly smeared,” the statement read. “Jussie is a son, a brother, a partner, a champion for human rights, and a genuine soul who would never be capable of what he was falsely accused of. He was the victim of an assault and then falsely blamed for his own attack. This morning truth has prevailed and he has been vindicated. All charges have been dismissed and his record expunged (cleared).”

Representatives for 20th Century Fox Television, the production company behind Fox’s “Empire,” said it has no comment.

Smollett is expected to make a public statement soon.

The actor and musician claimed that he was the victim of an assault in the early morning hours of Jan. 29 in Chicago, stating two men hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, beat him, poured bleach on him, and placed a rope around his neck. Smollett also said that the two men used the phrase “MAGA country” during the assault, a reference to President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Investigators conducted an investigation which led them to believe that Smollett paid two acquaintances — brothers Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo — to help him stage the attack. Police previously arrested the brothers, but they were later released without being charged.
New documents reveal that Jussie Smollett bought drugs from Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo “Ola Osundairo, the two people who accused him of staging an attack on January 29.