‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett indicted in Chicago. Why is he charged again after hoax?

Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted by special prosecutor Dan Webb for his involvement in an alleged hoax attack, the Cook County Clerk’s Office confirmed to ABC7Chicago.

All previous 16 charges of “felony disorderly conduct” were dropped against Smollett, ABC7Chicago reported.

Smollett is accused of staging a hoax hate crime attack in 2019 because he was “unhappy with his ‘Empire’ salary,” according to ABC7Chicago.

Webb, former U.S. Attorney in Chicago, was appointed to review the evidence against Smollett and see if new charges could be filed, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Smollett was charged for “allegedly providing false information about the attack,” saying that two white men had jumped him and called him homophobic, racist slurs before they put a noose around his neck, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Authorities dropped the charges in March 2019 and abandoned the case five weeks after charges were filed, according to Fox32Chicago. Smollett allowed Chicago to keep his $10,000 bail.

Smollett’s record was also wiped of the charges and he agreed to complete community service, Fox32Chicago reported.

“I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I was being accused of,” Smollett said after the court hearing.

Smollett is due in court on Feb. 24.

This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 2:30 PM with the headline "‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett indicted in Chicago. Why is he charged again after hoax?."