Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley Nimrata (Nikki) Haley'The soul' versus 'law and order' Author Ryan Girdusky: RNC worked best when highlighting 'regular people' as opposed to 'standard Republicans' GOP lobbyists pleasantly surprised by Republican convention MORE said "the media should be outraged" for its coverage of an alleged attack on Jussie Smollett, saying the "Empire" actor "played all of them for fools."

Haley offered the remarks on Twitter after news reports that police are now investigating whether the attack on Smollett was a hoax.

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"Thoughts on Jussie Smollett case: He must be held accountable in the strictest way," Haley wrote on Twitter to her more than 370,00 followers.

"He must repay resources used to investigate and serve time for the division he caused," she wrote. "The media should be the most outraged. He played all of them for fools. He knew they would cover it."

Thoughts on Jussie Smollett case: He must be held accountable in the strictest way. He must repay resources used to investigate and serve time for the division he caused. The media should be the most outraged. He played all of them for fools. He knew they would cover it. — Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 19, 2019

Haley resigned her post as United Nations ambassador at the end of last year.

On Jan. 29, Smollett claimed he was attacked around 2 a.m. in a Chicago neighborhood by two men who shouted "This is MAGA country!" as well as racist and homophobic slurs. He also said the men poured an "unknown liquid" on him and attempted to tie a noose around his neck.

Several prominent Democratic lawmakers denounced the alleged attack, including Sens. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) and Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice First presidential debate to cover coronavirus, Supreme Court Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (D-Calif.), with the latter calling it a "modern-day lynching."

Both have since said they will withhold judgment in the case until police wrap up their investigation.