However, detectives are unable to "independently verify" the call occurred because Smollett refused to turn over his phone.

— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) January 31, 2019

‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett claimed that he was on the phone with his music manager. The manager, Brandon Moore, claimed he heard the attackers using the term “MAGA country” as a slur at Smollett. Both made that claim to police in their reports. Smollett didn’t make the claim in the original report but in a supplemental report after media had reported the claim.

Police asked Smollett if they could have his phone to confirm it. He refused.

Now one might possibly understand why you might not want to turn over your phone, you might not want the police to see everything else on your phone if there were personal things perhaps.

But now Yashar Ali is reporting that both Smollett and the manager refused to turn over relevant phone records for the time period, according to police.

Confirmed with two Chicago PD sources that Jussie Smollett and his manager refused a request to turn over phone records to show Smollett's manager was on the phone with Jussie when the attack took place. Its not clear if Chicago PD will move to obtain records independently

— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) January 31, 2019