The Jussie Smollett saga has taken yet another weird but unsurprising turn. Having admitted to being hired by the “Empire” actor to stage a hate crime, brothers Abel and Olabinjo Osundairo are none too pleased that Smollett continues the innocence charade. According to reports, the brothers have filed suit against the actor’s lawyers, accusing them of defamation.
The brothers claim attorneys Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian (pictured above) made false statements about them during media appearances in defense of Jussie Smollett. The controversial handling of Smollett’s hate-crime hoax sparked outrage from the Chicago Police Department, who determined Smollett filed false police reports. He was subsequently charged with a Class 4 felony, but Cook County’s prosecution office decided to dismiss charges. Instead, Smollett agreed to forfeit $10,000 in bond and perform community service.
Although prosecutors admitted Smollett would likely have been convicted, he stood by his story despite the Osundairo brothers having come clean to Chicago police about being hired to perpetuate the false attack. Due to ongoing public coverage of the case, the brothers claim their careers have been affected over involvement, despite charges having been dropped against Jussie Smollett.
Attorneys for Smollett responded in a statement: “At first we thought this comical legal document was a parody. Instead this so-called lawsuit by the brothers is more of their lawyer-driven nonsense, and a desperate attempt for them to stay relevant and further profit from an attack they admit they perpetrated. While we know this ridiculous lawsuit will soon be dismissed because it lacks any legal footing, we look forward to exposing the fraud the Osundairo brothers and their attorneys have committed on the public.”
The brothers came forward during investigation implicating Smollett in false police reporting and other offenses after Jussie Smollett claimed to have been victim of a hate crime. According to the actor, he was attacked by a Trump supporter who stated “This is MAGA country” while pouring liquid on Smollett before leaving him with a noose around his neck. The Osundairo brothers told police that Smollett hired the men to carry out the attack against him.
