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The strange saga of Jussie Smollett began way back in January when the former Empire actor reported that he was assaulted by two white men in what appeared to be a racially- and politically-motivated hate crime. But as further details emerged, so did the holes in Smollett’s story. Eventually, it became clear that Smollett was assaulted by two black men who had previously worked as extras on Empire . Despite mounting evidence that he had misled authorities, however, the case against Smollett was mysteriously dropped , much to the chagrin of Chicago police officials and then-mayor Rahm Emanuel, who spoke out against the state’s attorney’s decision. On social media, Smollett’s supporters rejoiced in the dismissal, while many decried what they viewed as a gross miscarriage of justice. Now, it looks like critics of the decision may have cause for celebration, as a Chicago judge has ordered a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate the handling of the case. While it’s prosecutors, not Smollett himself, who are being investigated, the inquiry could land the 37-year-old back in court on criminal charges. “If reasonable grounds exist to further prosecute Smollett, in the interest of justice the special prosecutor may take such action,” the judge wrote in his order. The judge added that he reached the decision to effectively re-open the investigation as a result of “unprecedented irregularities identified in this case.” It was State’s Attorney Kim Foxx who dismissed the charges against Smollett the first time, but Foxx later recused herself amid allegations that she had spoken with several prominent figures — including Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff — about the need to acquit Jussie. The judge says the ensuing disarray resulted in a mishandled and incomplete investigation. “There was no master on the bridge to guide the ship as it floundered through unchartered waters,” he wrote. “And it ultimately lost its bearings.” Smollett has yet to publicly respond to the judge’s decision, but you can bet his legal team is gearing up for another fight. And on Twitter, of course, the battle has already commenced. You can bet the war or words between the bitterly divided factions will once again be a brutal one. And whatever conclusion the special prosecutor reaches, it’s sure to spark controversy. We’ll keep you updated on this developing story as more information becomes available. View Slideshow: Jussie Smollett: This is How He Staged His Alleged Assault

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Jussie Smollett Case Re-Opened: Could He Be Prosecuted For Faking Attack?