More developments in the Jussie Smollett case have surfaced, as Chicago police have released numerous documents relating to the incident, including web browsing history of the actor and others involved in the case.
CBS Chicago's Charlie De Mar reports the recently released docs, which total over 1,200 files, show Smollet's name was searched by the the accused on over 50 separate occasions, many times within mere seconds of each other.
It is worth noting that the files didn't indicate whether or not the browsing history belonged to the former Empire actor. Per Page Six, Smollett's lawyer said the browsing history actually belonged to Ola and Abel Osundairo, the two brothers whom he is believed to have hired to help stage the attack.
On Monday, video footage from the night of the incident was released to the public, showing Smollett talking to law enforcement officials in his home while the noose was still tied around his neck. When asked by officers if he wanted to remove the rope, he responded, "Yeah, I do. I just wanted you all to see it." Afterwards, he asked if he was being filmed and requested for the cops to stop recording the conversation.
The incident goes back to late January, when news of the reportedly staged hate crime broke. In the weeks that followed, Smollett, who made a seemingly questionable appearance on the Good Morning America show, became suspected of orchestrating the altercation, and was subsequently arrested. In March, the 37-year-old was indicted and slapped with 16 charges, though several weeks later, all charges were dropped. A comprehensive timeline of the case can be found here.
Despite the charges being dropped, Smollett isn't out of the woods just yet. After Kim Foxx, the original prosecutor, was hit with a subpoena for her handling of the case, a special prosecutor was recently appointed, as the judge indicated action may be taken against the actor if "reasonable grounds" are discovered.
