Chicago PD says Jussie Smollett gave investigators 'insufficient' cell phone data to prove that he was on the phone with his manager when he was attacked last month

The Chicago Police Department has claimed that the records supplied to them by Jussie Smollett to prove he was on the phone with his manager when he was attacked are heavily redacted and insufficient as evidence of the call.

In the latest development in a series of back-and-forths between the Empire star and the authorities, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Monday that Smollett, 36, had not given enough proof that he was talking to Brandon Z. Moore when he was jumped on January 29.

'We continue to investigate but the records are insufficient to corroborate some of the information.

'We appreciate the cooperation but will be following up for some additional data,' Guglielmi told DailyMail.com.

TMZ reports that Smollett gave a redacted, PDF print-out of a bill but police would not confirm that detail on Tuesday morning.

They also would not confirm whether or not they planned to ask the cell phone company for the records they say he is withholding.

It comes a day after Smollett's representative hit out at the department for revealing that he had not, until yesterday morning, handed over any phone records to support his story.

Any redacted information was intended to protect the privacy of personal contacts or high-profile individuals not relevant to the attack Jussie Smollett's representative

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the star said he had redacted the phone records to 'protect the privacy of personal contacts or high-profile individuals not relevant to the attack'.

'Jussie has voluntarily provided his phone records from within an hour of the attack and given multiple statements to police.'

He added that the star had not even been told that what he gave over was insufficient and that he would not be 'baited' into 'uncorroborated press reports' despite the department spokesman going on the record on Tuesday with his comments.

The police department would not say what further proof of the call it needed.

Smollett and his manager Brandon Z. Moore are pictured. Brandon claimed to have heard Smollett's attackers calling him 'Empire f****t n***r' and shouting 'This is MAGA country!'

The Chicago Tribune Star reports that not only were the phone records that he provided redacted, but that Moore, the manager on the other end of the call, had only provided a screenshot of his phone which showed a record of it the conversation.

Moore declined repeated offers to speak to DailyMail.com last month and did not immediately respond to inquiries on Tuesday morning.

Yesterday, in his statement, Smollett's representative hit out at the suggestion that he was not cooperating by not giving unfettered access to his phone.

'Jussie is the victim here, which has been stated by the Superintendent of Police. These types of false stories are wrong and damaging to the investigation.

'Jussie has provided his phone records and multiple statements to police, and Chicago PD has repeatedly informed us that they find Jussie’s account of what happened that night consistent and credible.

'Any reports to the contrary are simply false and misrepresent the Chicago Police Superintendent’s remarks regarding the status of the investigation.

'Superintendent Johnson has been clear from day one that Jussie is a victim. We are continuing to work closely with the Chicago PD and remain confident that they will find Jussie’s attackers and bring them to justice,' they said in a statement.

A week before the attack, Smollett received this threatening letter at the Fox studio where he works

Chicago Police Department has said in repeated statements that he has been cooperative but that they have not been able to find video footage of the attack or confirm the phone call.

Moore claims to have heard Smollett's attackers calling him 'Empire f****t n****r' and shouting: 'This is MAGA country!' after allegedly attacking him, hitting him, putting a noose around his neck and pouring bleach on him.

Smollett was walking home from a Subway sandwich shop when he was attacked by two men.

He said one was wearing a mask and he could not identify the other.

The actor was picked up by surveillance cameras walking out of the Subway and was picked back up entering his building with a rope around his neck but so far no video of the attack has been found.

His friend, 60-year-old Frank Gatson, was in his apartment when he got home and he was who called the police.

Smollett did not want to involve the authorities but Gatson insisted.