Chicago authorities, on Feb. 15, released two brothers of Nigerian descent (identified by other media outlets as Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo) who had been questioned about a reported attack on openly gay Empire star Jussie Smollett, saying they no longer were considered suspects, The Chicago Tribune reported.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted, "Case Update: Due to new evidence as a result of today's interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete."

The men had been arrested Feb. 13 after detectives tracked them on surveillance cameras in the Streeterville area. Smollett has said two men shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him late last month, hit him and put a rope around his neck while yelling, "This is MAGA country!"

The Tribune article is at Website Link Here .