Jussie Smollett Hoax Attack Planning Started With Cryptic Text Message

Jussie Smollett, the "Empire" actor turned himself in on Feb. 21, 2019 to face a charge of making a false police report when he said he was attacked in downtown Chicago by two men.Chicago Police Department via AP

Prosecution documents relating to “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett—who faces felony charges for filing a false police report, a class 4 felony—reveal a text message likely to have been pivotal at the early stages of the hoax attack.

The bond hearing documents (pdf), obtained and published by TMZ, purport to show that on Jan. 25 Smollett sent a text message to Abel Osundairo, saying: “Might need your help on the low. You around to meet up and talk face to face?”