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Police said Smollett planned the hoax because he was unhappy with his salary and wanted to promote his career. Smollett, who is black and gay, turned himself in to face accusations that he filed a false police report last month when he told authorities he was attacked in downtown Chicago by two masked men who hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and looped a rope around his neck, police said.

His plans for the surveillance camera were thwarted. Police say it was pointed another way and did not have a view of the beating. Smollett, who was released a couple of hours after the hearing, said little during the proceedings, except to state his name.

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The actor, his attorneys and supporters left without speaking to reporters. The FBI has been investigating the threatening letter. Johnson would not say whether Smollett could face additional charges for that. In less than a month, Smollett went from being the seemingly sympathetic victim of a hate crime to being accused of fabricating the entire thing.

The year-old was charged Wednesday with felony disorderly conduct, a charge that could bring up to three years in prison and force the actor to pay for the cost of the investigation into his report of a Jan. Police treated Smollett as a victim until the two brotherswho had been taken into custody for questioning, admitted to helping him stage the attack, Johnson said.

Smollett, who plays a gay character on the show that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry, said he was attacked as he was walking home from a downtown Subway sandwich shop. In describing what police believe actually happened, Johnson made it sound as if Smollett was casting and directing a short movie.

Detectives found the two brothers after reviewing hundreds of hours of video. Police questioned the men and searched their apartment. Smollett was charged by prosecutors, not the grand jury. She said her clients did not care about a plea deal or immunity. Smollett has been active in LBGTQ issues, and initial reports of the assault drew outrage and support for him on social media, including from Sen.