Prosecutors said they still believe Smollett concocted the assault. Outside court, neither Smollett nor his legal team appeared to concede anything about his original report in January . Authorities alleged that Smollett, who is black and gay, knew the men and arranged for them to pretend to attack him. It's highly, highly unusual," said Phil Turner, a Chicago defense attorney and former federal prosecutor with no ties to the case. Before the attack, police said, Smollett also sent a letter threatening himself to the Chicago studio where "Empire" is shot.

Source: ABC News March 26, 2019 18:35 UTC