Staff Reports
The Washington Times, LLC reported on a federal judge’s ruling that Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania must hand over more than 1,600 texts and emails to FBI agents investigating the 2020 election. Judge James Boasberg’s decision came after Perry’s personal cellphone was seized by federal authorities, who are examining his involvement in the election’s aftermath.
Perry, a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been under scrutiny for his efforts to install an acting attorney general favorable to Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud and block the transfer of power to President Joe Biden.
The judge’s ruling aligns with an earlier finding and states that Perry can withhold 396 messages under the constitution’s speech and debate clause but must disclose 1,659 records that do not involve legislative acts. These records include discussions aimed at influencing the executive branch and Vice President Mike Pence’s role in certifying the election.
Judge orders GOP congressman Rep. Scott Perry to hand over hundreds of texts, emails to FBI in 2020 election probehttps://t.co/LIkvHbZbBI pic.twitter.com/GaK5HPe1RQ
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 21, 2023
Perry’s lawyer, John Rowley, expressed the intention to review the ruling and consider an appeal. Rowley maintained that Perry’s actions were in response to concerns about election discrepancies and defended his legal challenge as necessary to address “overly aggressive prosecutors.”
Perry, the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline conservatives, has not been charged with a crime but remains a focus of federal investigation. His efforts to safeguard his cellphone’s contents have been shrouded in secrecy, with occasional glimpses into the web of Trump loyalists surrounding him.
The investigation has centered on Perry’s involvement in promoting Jeffrey Clark to acting attorney general in late 2020. Perry has previously claimed that he simply complied with Trump’s request to introduce him to Clark. However, their messages indicate Perry’s significant support for Clark, who sought to reverse the Department of Justice’s stance on election fraud.
The standoff over Clark’s appointment brought the Justice Department to the brink of crisis, with prosecutors alleging that Trump’s backing down was due to the prospect of mass resignations. Clark is now implicated in an indictment accusing a group, including Trump, of attempting to illegally retain power after losing the 2020 election.
The federal court’s decision to compel Perry to turn over communications sheds light on his involvement in the events following the 2020 election and raises questions about his role in Trump’s efforts to challenge the election results.
