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GOP lawmakers reportedly subpoenaed by FBI following seizure of PA Rep’s phone, Mar-a-Lago raid

August 11, 2022 | | Print Article

The FBI is not letting up in its assault on those who oppose President Joe Biden’s agenda. After its unprecedented raid of former President Donald Trump’s private residence, Mar-a-Lago,  the agency seized the cellphone of Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry on Tuesday as he waited with his family at an airport. And on Tuesday and Wednesday, the FBI reportedly served subpoenas to Republicans serving in Pennsylvania’s House and Senate, seeking dirt on Perry and his plan to install alternate electors in 2020.

Several state House and Senate Republicans were paid a visit by federal investigators, multiple sources told Penn Live.

At least six sources stated that some of those visited by the feds were told they were not targets of the investigation but that they may have information the FBI wants.

In an exclusive statement to Fox News on Tuesday, Perry said that he is “outraged” by the FBI’s actions.

“This morning, while traveling with my family, 3 FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone,” he said. “They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish.”

“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,” Perry continued. “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.”

“[A]s with President Trump last night, DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys,” he stated. “These kinds of banana republic tactics should concern every Citizen — especially considering the decision before Congress this week to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to further persecute law-abiding Citizens.”

However, spokespersons for the Republican leaders of Pennsylvania’s House and Senate have not confirmed if their caucus members have been subpoenaed.

Jason Gottesman, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff and the chamber’s Republican caucus, said, “I am unaware of any FBI presence in the Capitol or Leader Benninghoff’s office yesterday. To the extent House members or staff may have been contacted by the FBI, we would not comment on a potential or ongoing investigation.”

Jason Thompson, the spokesperson for Republican state Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, said “Federal subpoenas typically request confidentiality from the witnesses being subpoenaed in order to avoid impediment to the ongoing investigation, so it would be inappropriate to comment on whether members have received subpoenas or not. If subpoenaed as witnesses, our members will certainly comply with requests for documents or information not covered by an applicable privilege.”

“We have no indication that any of our members are targets of any FBI investigation,” he added.

In a late-night statement from Perry on Wednesday that was shared by his campaign spokesman, the lawmaker stated he is not, in fact, a target of the DOJ’s investigation.

“In a discussion with the DOJ (federal Department of Justice), my attorneys were informed that I’m not a target of its investigation,” the statement read. “I’ve directed them to cooperate with the Justice Department in order to ensure that it gets the information to which it’s entitled, but to protect information to which it’s not – including communications that are protected under the speech and debate clause of the United States Constitution.”

Online, conservatives are voicing their support for Rep. Perry and their condemnation of the DOJ.

“Now Congressman Scott Perry’s phone?” asked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) “The FBI has gone rogue and is doing the dirty work of a communist regime. Who is giving these orders?”

“They are totally out of control,” Sebastian Gorka said of the FBI. “Which Patriot will they target next?”

“They were out to get Trump before he was president. They were out to get him when he was president. They’re out to get him after he left the White House,” tweeted Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “And now they’re out to get @RepScottPerry, a general who honorably served our country for years.”

Melissa Fine
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