Justice Department to Return Rep. Ogles' Cell Phone

The Justice Department has agreed to give back the cell phone of Rep. Andy Ogles. A law firm representing the Tennessee Republican announced this decision on Tuesday. The phone was taken by the FBI in 2024.

The law firm, Litson, stated that the federal investigation focused on a campaign finance reporting issue. The Justice Department has also agreed to destroy all information obtained from Ogles' phone and his Google account. This agreement comes after a lengthy dispute over the seizure.

The legal issues began in 2024 when a court granted search warrants for Ogles' cell phone and Google account. The FBI then seized his cell phone in August of that year. This action followed questions about his campaign's financial reports.

During his 2022 congressional race, Ogles' campaign reported that he personally loaned his campaign $320,000. However, an Office of Congressional Ethics report later indicated that only $20,000 was actually transferred. An attorney for Ogles reportedly made this clarification in 2024.

Ogles has not been charged with any crime related to this matter. The recent court filing from his legal team suggests federal prosecutors may be moving away from the investigation. The filing stated the government will return or destroy property and information obtained through the search warrants.

Ogles' legal team had argued against the seizure. They claimed his phone and email contained many legislative documents protected by the Constitution. These documents included sensitive discussions among lawmakers about leadership positions, such as the House speaker.

In October 2024, both sides had agreed that the Justice Department would not examine the phone's contents. This was until a judge ruled on Ogles' request for the property's return. However, no such ruling was made.

Ogles expressed gratitude for the decision, calling it a victory for respecting the Constitution. He stated that the investigation should not have happened and that the Justice Department had no right to review his communications. He believes the department's agreement acknowledges he was correct.