Reports: Chicago Police Paid for Hotel Stay, Security for Brothers Involved in Jussie Smollett Case

Chicago police paid for a six-night hotel stay and 24-hour security for the two brothers involved in Empire actor Jussie Smollett’s case, the Associated Press reports. According to investigative reports released Wednesday, Abimbola Osundairo and Olabinjo Osundairo were taken to a hotel in mid-February to “avoid the media” as police re-investigated Smollett’s account that he was attacked in late January by two men. Police reportedly met with the Osundairo brothers in the hotel, bought them food at restaurants, and drove both of them and their attorney to court.

Smollett was accused of paying the brothers $3,500 to shout racist and homophobic remarks, pour bleach on him, and tie a rope around his neck during the attack. Through video surveillance footage and other means, police were able to identify the brothers as the assailants. They were questioned and subsequently released without charges a few days later. Smollett was later charged with disorderly conduct for filing a false police report related to the attack, but had his charges dropped earlier this week.