GOP Rep. Scott Perry says FBI confiscated his cellphone, declines to say why

Scott Perry
(Image credit: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images)

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), an ally of former President Donald Trump and chair of the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus, said Tuesday that three FBI agents "seized my cellphone" earlier in the day after having made "made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish." Perry did not disclose what the FBI is searching for on his phone — he would have received a copy of the search warrant — but he is linked to several investigations focused on efforts to keep Trump in office after he lost his re-election bid.

Perry is one of at least 11 congressional Republicans involved in discussions with Trump's White House about overturning the election, according to former Justice Department officials, the House Jan. 6 committee, and an October 2021 Senate Judiciary report. He also introduced Trump to Jeffrey Clark, a former assistant U.S. attorney general, and reportedly pushed for Trump to name Clark acting attorney general so the Justice Department would go along with various rejected schemes to overturn President Biden's electoral victory.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.