FBI seizes Republican Representative Ogles' cell phone in funding probe

[August 07, 2024]  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - FBI agents have seized Republican Representative Andy Ogles' cell phone as part of an investigation into problems surrounding his disclosures of campaign funds, the freshman lawmaker said on Tuesday.

House Freedom Caucus member U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) speaks during a press conference regarding federal government spending on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 12, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

"Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone," Ogles said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings," he said.

Ogles, who represents a district adjacent to Nashville, Tennessee, said that he would cooperate with law enforcement and the Federal Election Commission. He did not provide further details on the investigation.

Ogles won his first term in the House of Representatives in a November, 2022 election by a comfortable 55.8%-42.3% over a Democratic opponent.

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Ogles, who is a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. Last month he offered legislation calling for the impeachment of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of "gross incompetence" in dealing with immigrants coming across the southern border of the United States with Mexico.

Harris has not been in charge of border control. She was assigned by President Joe Biden to work with the "Northern Triangle" countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua on root causes of migration in their respective countries.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Stephen Coates)

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