Nancy Pelosi has deleted a tweet rallying behind Jussie Smollett, after reports suggested the attack may have been staged. Smollett told Chicago Police he was the victim of an assault on January 29. He said men wrapped rope around his neck and yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him. Pelosi tweeted about it the same day, to condemn the "racist, homophobic" attack on the "Empire" actor. The tweet has since been deleted. Chicago Police investigators now think Smollett may have orchestrated the attack himself, a police source told CNN. Smollett's attorneys have forcefully denied that he had anything to do with the attack. Nancy Pelosi has deleted a tweet condemning a "racist, homophobic" attack on Jussie Smollett, as police reportedly investigate whether the "Empire" actor staged it. The now-deleted tweet on January 29 from the House Speaker read: "The racist, homophobic attack on @JussieSmollett is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love. "I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery & that justice is served. May we all committ to ending this hate once & for all." The now-deleted tweet from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supporting Jussie Smollett. Twitter/SpeakerPelosi Smollett reported he had been the victim of a "possible racially charged assault and battery" on January 29, Chicago Police said. He received widespread support after talking about what he said happened. Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that Smollett said he was called "'Empire f----t" and "Empire n----r." Smollett also told police the men warned him: "This is MAGA country." Last week Chicago Police denied reports they were about to charge Smollett with making a false report. And on Sunday speculation that the attack was staged mounted further when Chicago Police sources told CNN that investigators think the actor hired men to attack him. Smollett is gay, and also plays the gay character of Jamal on the Fox TV show. Christopher Fragapane/Fox Read more: People are criticizing Jussie Smollett following reports that he may have staged his alleged attack Chicago Police had taken two brothers into custody as suspects in connection with the attack, but they were both released without charge on Friday, ABC reported. Smollett's attorneys said one of the brothers was his personal trainer, according to ABC. The network said the two men reportedly cooperated with police when they procured evidence that the brothers had bought the rope used in the attack. Smollett's attorneys Todd S. Pugh and Victor P. Henderson published a statement on Sunday denying that he staged the attack. "As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with," it said. Smollett is gay, and also plays the gay character of Jamal on the Fox TV show. Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Speaker Pelosi, told Business Insider: "As the Speaker who passed the fully inclusive Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, we spoke out because this appeared to be a deeply troubling incident of violence motivated against vulnerable communities." "Given the turn in the investigation, we decided to no longer amplify the original accusation. Following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, we will comment further. We should all be united in fighting racism and homophobia."<doc-sep>Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has deleted her tweet of sympathy for the Empire actor Jussie Smollett, who police in Chicago reportedly believe orchestrated a hoax hate crime attack against himself. Last month, Smollett alleged that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime by two men who yelled “This is MAGA Country” after beating him. The incident sparked widespread condemnation and support from senior Democrats and celebrities, including Pelosi. “The racist, homophobic attack on [Smollett] is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love,” Pelosi had written on January 29th. “I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery [and] that justice is served. May we all commit to ending this hate once [and] for all.” On Saturday, Chicago police confirmed that the focus of the investigation had “shifted.” CNN crime and justice reporter Shimon Prokupecz reported that authorities believe that “Smollett paid two men to orchestrate the assault,” adding that the “the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement.” Pelosi was one of many senior Democrat politicians to condemn the attack, with 2020 presidential candidates Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) describing it as an example of a “modern-day lynching.” Others even blamed it on Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. The vicious attack on actor Jussie Smollett was an attempted modern-day lynching. I'm glad he's safe. To those in Congress who don't feel the urgency to pass our Anti-Lynching bill designating lynching as a federal hate crime– I urge you to pay attention. https://t.co/EwXFxl5f2m — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 29, 2019 . @JussieSmollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know. I’m praying for his quick recovery. This was an attempted modern day lynching. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2019 Unlike Pelosi, neither Booker nor Harris have deleted their tweets, and have so far refused to offer any comment on the case’s latest developments. Meanwhile, Smollett’s attorneys have released a statement this weekend denying their client’s deliberate involvement in the attack. “As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with,” they wrote. “He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.” Follow Ben Kew on Facebook, Twitter at @ben_kew, or email him at bkew@breitbart.com.<doc-sep>
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deleted her original tweet sympathetic for “Empire” actor and singer Jussie Smollett amid reports that Smollett may have staged the alleged January 29 attack against himself. Smollett claimed to law enforcement he went to a local Chicago Subway eatery at 2 a.m., and he was physically assaulted by two men in ski masks who poured a bleach-like substance on him and tied a rope around his neck like a noose. (RELATED: Here Are All The Politicians Who Rushed To Judgement On The Smollett ‘Hate Crime’) Smollett, who is gay and black, also told police his attackers yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him as well as told him, “This is MAGA country.” Politicians and celebrities alike rallied around Smollett, including Pelosi, who tweeted on January 29, “The racist, homophobic attack on [Smollett] is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love.” However, as the case unfolded over the past two weeks more questions arose as to whether Smollett was telling the complete truth about the January 29 incident. Others have yet to retract their original statements or delete their original tweets, including California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Corey Booker. Both are running for the Democratic nomination for president. Booker was asked about the recent developments in the case and would only say he is waiting for more information before he makes any further statements about the matter. (RELATED: Cory Booker Called Smollett ‘Attack’ A ‘Lynching,’ Now He’s Refusing Comment Amid New Evidence In The Case) According to ABC News, two Nigerian brothers, initially arrested by Chicago Police in connection to the assault against Smollett were later released after telling law enforcement that Smollett paid them to stage the attack. One of the brothers is Smollett’s personal trainer, according to a statement to ABC News from Smollett’s attorneys. They had decided to cooperate after investigators revealed that they had evidence the brothers had bought the rope that was put around Smollet’s neck at a local hardware store. Smollett’s attorneys released a statement denying he staged his own attack, saying in part, “As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.” Follow Kerry on Twitter Kerry Picket is a host on SiriusXM Patriot 125