Rob ElgasVerified account

Here’s the first specific detail we’ve learned about the type of rope found: A police spokesman tells @ABC7Chicago the rope around Smollett’s neck was a type of rope that can be used for clothes lines.

OK, let me get you some new details on the Smollett investigation. It's not much, and some of it has already been reported, but let's get up to date.

My Chicago reporting colleague @RaferWeigel is reporting police have new surveillance video from a red light camera. I haven not confirmed this with CPD but can tell you 1) There's a red light camera near the condo building where police were called...

2) Chicago police do tell me they are reviewing "red light cameras, pod cameras, hotel cameras, any cameras we can find". And because there are so many hours of footage, this process is taking a really long time.

Now to Frank Gatson the man who was with Jussie Smollett and the man who made the call to Chicago police.

EXTRA reporter @AJCalloway talked to Gatson in New York. Calloway's interview was the first time we've heard from Gatson publicly. Today @ABC was able to verify Gatson's comments (this is standard policy for us, we need to independently verify).

Frank Gatson's manager, Guido Fabris, did indeed verify to @ABC a few quotes Gatson said about the night (early morning) Jussie Smollett says he was attacked. I'll share those quotes here:

According to Frank Gatson's manager, Gatson says of the night of the Smollett attack: "I’m the one who called 911, I am the one who took him to the hospital, and it was so scary, man, that was a scary night — my stomach was numb."

Gatson, according to his manager, also says of the Smollett attack "I’m just glad I was the old man at his apartment when he got there, I was responsible. I said, 'Let’s call the cops, let’s go to the hospital.'"

Frank Gatson also applauded the efforts of the Chicago police. Saying "Shout out to Chicago police, especially the sergeant that came and got things together and made us feel comfortable."

One last (now on-the-record comment) by Frank Gatson who was with Jussie Smollett after the attack: "I’m the one that picked him up from the airport that night and I feel so selfish I didn’t walk with him that night.”

Have some new information about an @ABC7Chicago FOIA request in the Smollett investigation.

Last Friday one of our assignment editors filed under FOIA, "requesting any police body cams involving Jussie Smollett including the very first officer on the scene and any other officer body cams that have any video and or sound.. or any police video from police cars".

Our FOIA request for this information in the Smollett case was denied.

The response cites privacy.

Remember we reported Jussie Smollett did ask officers to turn off body cameras after they disclosed to him they were wearing them. This is CPD policy (to disclose the cams are recording) and investigators say it's not uncommon for victims of a crime to ask they be turned off.

Standby for an update on the Jussie Smollett investigation. It's about his phone records...

BREAKING: Chicago police confirm to @ABC that today Jussie Smollett submitted phone records from within an hour of the alleged attack to investigators.

MORE: Chicago police spokesman @AJGuglielmi tells @ABC7Chicago police received "limited and redacted phone records from the victim (Smollett). These records will be analyzed by detectives and we will be in contact with the victim should additional information be needed."

MORE: Chicago police tell @ABC and @ABC7Chicago Jussie Smollett's "limited and redacted" phone records were given to detectives at 1:28pm (Chicago time) today.

Revisiting: Chicago police are leading the Smollett attack investigation with assistance from the FBI. We are told the FBI is the lead in the alleged threat letter investigation.

Standby for an update on Jussie Smollet's phone records. We have some new information from police.

UPDATE: After Jussie Smollett turned over "limited & redacted" phone records, Chicago police spokesman @AJGuglielmi tells @ABC7Chicago "We are very appreciative of the victim's cooperation however the records provided do not meet the burden for a criminal investigation..."

MORE: Chicago police spokesman says "Detectives may be following up with him (Smollett) to request additional data to corroborate the investigative timeline."

NEW: Representatives for Jussie Smollett have released a statement. Will post here.

The following is a statement from Chris Bastardi, he is the Vice President/Head of Strategy and Crisis for Sunshine Sachs, the firm representing Jussie Smollett.

Sunshine Sachs firm on Smollett phone records: "Jussie is the victim here, which has been stated by the Superintendent of Police. Jussie has voluntarily provided his phone records from within an hour of the attack and given multiple statements to police."

MORE: Sunshine Sachs firm: "Chicago PD has repeatedly informed us that they find Jussie’s account of what happened that night consistent and credible. Superintendent Johnson has been clear from day one that Jussie is a victim."

"We are continuing to work closely with Chicago PD and remain confident that they will find Jussie’s attackers and bring them to justice. Any redacted information was intended to protect the privacy of personal contacts or high-profile individuals not relevant to the attack."

Firm Sunshine Sachs representing Jussie Smollett: "Police have not told us that they are rejecting any records, nor have they expressed concerns about the records to us. Therefore, we don’t feel compelled to be bated into responding to uncorroborated press reports."