Trump ally Scott Perry says FBI seizes his phone

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Trump ally Scott Perry says FBI seizes his phone

Scott Perry, the Republican congressman and a close ally of Donald Trump, said federal investigators seized his cell on Tuesday.

The news came after the FBI executed a search warrant on Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of a criminal investigation over the mishandling of White House records. It was not immediately clear if Perry's phone was connected to the raid.

A prominent House Republican from Pennsylvania, chair of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and one of the most ardent defenders of Capitol Hill, confirmed his phone had been taken in a statement earlier by Fox News.

3 FBI agents visited me this morning and seized my cell phone, while I was traveling with my family. Perry said that they did not attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish.

My phone has information about my legislative and political activities, personal private conversations with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. It is not the government's business. While it is not yet known why investigators sought Perry's phone, his communication could be relevant in at least two investigations: Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the mishandling of official records by Trump s former chief of staff Mark Meadows, who texted Perry on encrypted messaging apps.

The justice department could also want to examine Perry's phone because he and Trump share a lawyer, John Rowley, who is the former president's lead attorney who is talking about executive privilege issues with the justice department in its criminal investigations.