Chicago police: Jussie Smollett assault case has 'shifted'

Chicago: Chicago police said Saturday the investigation into the assault reported by Jussie Smollett has "shifted" due to information received from two brothers questioned in the case, and attorneys for the "Empire" actor blasted reports alleging he played a role in his own attack.

Chicago police had arrested, then released the two Nigerian brothers without charges late Friday and said they were no longer suspects in the attack.

On Saturday, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told CBS Chicago : "We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. We've reached out to the Empire cast member's attorney to request a follow-up interview."

Smollett, who is black and gay, has said he was attacked by two masked men shouting racial and anti-gay slurs and "This is MAGA country!" He said they looped a rope around his neck before running away as he was out getting food at a Subway restaurant early on Jan. 29. He said they also poured some kind of chemical on him.

Police have been unable to find surveillance video of the attack.

A spokeswoman for Smollett did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Guglielmi's comment.