Federal officials are reportedly examining whether “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has made a habit of hate-crime hoaxes.
According to ABC News, citing “two federal officials,” the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service are investigating whether Mr. Smollett was involved in sending a threatening letter to himself a week before the purported attack.
The network reported Tuesday that the claim was made by the two brothers who have told the Chicago Police Department that Mr. Smollett paid them to help fake the Jan. 29 attack on the gay actor that became a national cause.
The FBI crime lab is analyzing the letter, which was sent Jan. 22 to Mr. Smollett at the show’s Chicago studio, one of the sources told ABC News.
Authorities have not independently confirmed Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo’s claim that Mr. Smollett was also behind the letter, ABC News reported.
Sources already had told ABC News on Monday, again according to information given to Chicago police by the Osundairos, that the letter’s not getting sufficient attention is what caused Mr. Smollett to fake the attack.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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