(CNN) Two brothers who authorities said took part in a staged attack on actor Jussie Smollett were "betrayed" by the celebrity, their attorney told CNN on Monday.

Abimbola (left) and Olabinjo Osundairo

"I believe my clients were betrayed," Gloria Schmidt said on CNN's "AC 360," referring to brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo. "You have to look at what kind of relationship they had with Mr. Smollett. He's a celebrity. This is somebody who is in a position of power over my clients."

She added: "We've seen a lot of stories in the news where celebrities think they might be above the law. It's just not the case."

Smollett reported to police in January that he had been attacked in Chicago in an incident that ended with a noose around his neck. Police initially investigated the case as a possible hate crime.

Mark Geragos, Smollett's attorney, spoke with Anderson Cooper on Friday and said Smollett refused to sign a police complaint after the incident because "he could not believe it."

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