Congressman Scott Perry's text messages sought as part of criminal probe: report
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The U.S. Department of Justice "has tried to gain access to Congressman Scott Perry's text messages" as part of a criminal investigation into interference in the 2020 presidential election, CNN is reporting.
It comes as Talking Points Memo published former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows' text log, which had been turned over to a House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Following the election, Perry's sent texts to Meadows, including instructions from a "cyber forensic team" and putting voting machines "under lock and key," the news outlet reported.
FBI agents seized Perry's cell phone over the summer, which the congressman of the 10th District called “banana republic tactics.” He subsequently sued the Department of Justice. The parties have been facing off in secret court proceedings, CNN is reporting.
Three news organizations, including the York Daily Record, are seeking to have the United States District Court for the Middle District unseal the warrant and related documents used to seize the congressman's phone.
Perry has been a figure in the House committee investigation into the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Witnesses testified earlier this year that Perry pushed hard for Jeffrey Clark, the former acting assistant attorney general for the civil division, to meet with top leaders in the White House, including President Donald Trump.
He also pushed internet conspiracy theories, alleging that Italian satellites changed votes from Trump to Joe Biden. That theory has been debunked.
Some of Perry's texts to Meadows have been previously reported.
A reporter for USA Today reached out to Perry's office for comment but has not received a response.
To read more of the reports, visit CNN.com or TalkingPointsMemo.com.
More:YDR, 2 other media organizations request documents in seizure of Scott Perry's cell phone
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Scott Perry's text messages sought as part of DOJ probe: report
