Jussie Smollett invokes George Floyd protests in his ongoing legal battle with Chicago and says the police department is covering up for lying cops by refusing to share files about the investigation into 'hoax' attack

Jussie Smollett has invoked the nationwide protests over George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers in his ongoing legal battle with the city of Chicago. 

The actor is fighting a $130,000 lawsuit from the city which claims he lied when he said he'd been attacked in the street by two 'light skinned' assailants who called him racial and homophobic slurs in January 2019.

The first set of charges against him were dropped last year but after reviewing the case, a special prosecutor brought fresh charges against him in February. 

Separately, the city is trying to recoup the cost of its investigation into him in civil court. Smollett is fighting them and is demanding to see files relating to the firing of former Police Chief Eddie Johnson, who was fired after being caught drinking and kissing his female security guard during a night out in December 2019. 

Smollett says the city is refusing to hand the files over and that it is trying to cover up for Johnson who, when he was first charged, gave an extraordinary press conference eviscerating the Empire actor. 

'As we see millions across the country rise up to protest and expose police misconduct, the City, by its refusal to produce the requested documents, is choosing to actively resist a citizen’s lawful efforts to reveal dishonesty, directly relating to the charges against him, throughout the department, including the police superintendent who oversaw and publicly commented on the investigation of Mr. Smollett’s report of a vicious hate crime and assault,' Smollett's attorneys wrote in a filing on June 6th.

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Smollett's attorneys filed a response to the city on Saturday which refers to the global movement against racist police departments 

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Smollett, pictured protesting with Gina Belafonte in Los Angeles this weekend

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Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson was fired in December. Mayor Lori Lightfoot (shown with him a month earlier) said he misled the public and her

Chicago mayor fires Police Supt. Eddie Johnson for 'repeatedly lying'

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Smollett says the fact that Johnson was fired for a series of 'ethical lapses' shows he is not credible.

When he was fired, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said he'd 'misled' the public and her. 

Smollett says he is entitled to see records relating to Johnson's firing because they could prove a pattern of dishonest behavior that would be relevant to his case. 

'Documents from Johnson’s termination may lead to evidence of Johnson’s lack of truthfulness during the early 2019 investigation of Mr. Smollett’s report of being assaulted and subsequent decision by the City to pursue a civil claim against Mr. Smollett knowing Mr. Smollett’s innocence,' his attorneys wrote.

He tried to sue the city for malicious prosecution but a judge threw out the case and said he could only refile it if he is found not guilty at trial. 

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Surveillance footage from the night of the attack shows the two men Smollett said attacked him 

It's unclear when the trial will commence, with courthouses across the country battling enormous back logs due to COVID-19 shut downs.

Smollett has joined protests in Los Angeles this week. 

He has long claimed the police department in Chicago lied, leaked information to the media and maliciously went after him when he reported the attack.  

He was charged after Abel and Ola Osundairo admitted they carried out the attack and told police that Smollett had paid them to do it. 

Eddie Johnson said it was because Smollett wanted to raise his profile on Empire and become more famous. 

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Brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo say Smollett paid them to carry out the hoax attack