With every new report the stories surrounding the mysterious, alleged late January attack of singer/actor Jussie Smollett takes more twists and turns than a daytime soap opera.

As we previously reported, Chicago police originally stated there were no persons of interests discovered after reviewing hours of footage from “city street cams” near the location of the alleged incident.  Days later, they not only discovered two men but even made arrests in the days that followed that discovery.

Those first suspects – former ‘Empire’ actors – were released without charge in light of “new evidence.”  Now, CNN and a number of major outlets are reporting that new evidence revolves around an investigation that suggests Smollett orchestrated his own attack.  Details inside:

CNN:

The men, who are brothers, were arrested Wednesday but released without charges Friday after Chicago police cited the discovery of “new evidence.”

*****

Jussie Smollett has hired Michael Cohen’s criminal defense lawyer, the attorney confirmed this week, amid the deepening mystery of the “Empire” actor’s claim that he was the victim of a hate attack.

“Yes, at the moment, I am,” Michael Monico, a former federal prosecutor in Illinois’ Northern District, told WGN’s “The Roe Conn Show” on Thursday.

Monico did not say how long he’s been representing Smollett, or in what capacity.

The report above surfaced just hours before it was revealed the brothers, who identify as friends of Smollett’s, actually purchased the rope that was “tied around his neck” during the attack.

Your thoughts?