The FBI’s Monday raid of Mar-A-Lago, the palatial Florida residence of Donald and Melania Trump, is playing out with trickledown effects on Republicans with connections to the 45th president.
PennLive reported on Wednesday that multiple Pennsylvania Republicans had received subpoenas from the FBI after agents confiscated the personal cellphone of Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) on Tuesday.
Perry blasted the FBI and the DOJ, expressing his outrage against their disregard for common courtesy.
“This morning, while traveling with my family, 3 FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone,” Perry said in a statement. “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 remarked that messages between himself and his wife, other family members and friends were on his phone. However, he considered them none of the government’s business.
“As with President Trump last night, DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys,” Perry said. “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.”
PennLive reported that Perry and the other Republicans who received subpoenas “were not targets of an investigation,” but they may “have information of interest to the FBI.”
PennLive reported that “serval sources” said the information requested centers around Perry’s involvement in seeking alternate electors during the 2020 election as part of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office.
