Jussie Smollett’s lawyer tells Chicago he ‘will not be intimidated into paying’ bill

Jussie Smollett’s legal team doubled down on his refusal to reimburse the city of Chicago for investigating his alleged January attack, calling the city’s threats to sue the “Empire” star malicious and made “in bad faith.”

The city has said that Smollett owes it $130,106 for investigative costs and issued a bill to the embattled actor on March 28. The Thursday payment deadline passed without action and resulted in a legal threat against him.

TIMELINE: How the Jussie Smollett case unfolded »

In a letter late Thursday to the city’s Department of Law, Smollett’s defense attorney Mark Geragos railed against the city and summed up its repayment demand letter as “a course of conduct intended to harass and irreparably injure Mr. Smollett.”

“Your letter is both factually and legally flawed, and Mr. Smollett will not be intimidated into paying the demanded sum,” Geragos wrote in a response letter obtained by The Times.

The celebrity attorney also said that, since the charges against Smollett were dismissed, the city’s continued claims that he filed a false police report and orchestrated his own attack are “false and defamatory.” The city’s efforts to be reimbursed after charges were dropped are unconstitutional and lack legal precedent, Geragos said, and further litigation would violate federal and state bans on double jeopardy.

Taraji P. Henson says Jussie Smollett will return to ‘Empire’ »

However, if the city takes civil action, Geragos said he would demand access to the city’s entire investigation file, including information that hadn’t been previously disclosed to his team, along with depositions from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Police Supt. Eddie T. Johnson, brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo and their attorneys.

Despite all that, Geragos said that Smollett still prefers that “this matter be closed and that he be allowed to move on with his life,” echoing the statement the actor made when the charges were dropped last week.

The city has not yet responded to Geragos’ letter.

It’s the latest turn in the ongoing case that began in January when Smollett alleged that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. After police questioned the Osundairo brothers, who were persons of interest in the case, they claimed that the attack was a hoax and that Smollett orchestrated it to advance his career.

Those allegations eventually led to a 16-count indictment, which was dropped last week and parts of the case were sealed.

Follow me: @NardineSaad