In a sign of the national attention the case has drawn, Donald Trump weighed in Thursday, taking issue with the fact Smollett claimed his assailants invoked the president's "Make America Great Again" slogan along with homophobic and racist slurs during the purported attack.
"'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career," Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told an emotionally-charged news conference - during which he lashed out angrily at the actor for sullying the city's image. "Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack and drag Chicago's reputation through the mud in the process," he said.