Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry told Fox News that the FBI confiscated his cellphone on Tuesday.
According to the network, Perry said he was traveling with his family when he was approached by three FBI agents who had a warrant for his phone.
“They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish,” Perry said in his statement to Fox News. “I’m outraged — though not surprised — that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garland’s DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting member of Congress. My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. None of this is the government’s business.”
Perry alleged they “made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish.”
At a public hearing in June, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol showed testimony from former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson who said that in a Dec. 2020 phone call, Perry expressed support for encouraging people to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6.
The House committee alleged at its June 9 public hearing that Perry sought a pardon before Trump left office for his involvement in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
SELECT COMMITTEE REQUESTS INFORMATION FROM REPRESENTATIVE PERRY
Chairman Thompson wrote, “We have received evidence from multiple witnesses that you had an important role in the efforts to install Mr. Clark as acting Attorney General. Acting Attorney General Rosen and acting Deputy Attorney General Donoghue have provided evidence regarding these issues, and we have received evidence that others who worked with Mr. Clark were aware of these plans. We are also aware that you had multiple text and other communications with President Trump’s former Chief of Staff regarding Mr. Clark—and we also have evidence indicating that in that time frame you sent communications to the former Chief of Staff using the encrypted Signal app. Mr. Clark has informed us that he plans to invoke his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in anticipation of a deposition to be conducted by the Committee. When Mr. Clark decided to invoke his 5th Amendment rights, he understood that we planned to pose questions addressing his interactions with you, among a host of other topics.
“In addition, we have information indicating that you communicated at various relevant times with the White House and others involved in other relevant topics, including regarding allegations that the Dominion voting machines had been corrupted.”
