Court Revives Trump Ally Perry's Phone-Records Fight with Special Counsel

A federal appeals panel has declined to issue a broad order blocking special counsel Jack Smith's team from accessing data from Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry's cell phone, which was seized by the FBI during an investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The case has been sent back to a lower court to determine which of Perry's communications can be examined, including those with individuals outside the federal government, members of the Executive Branch, and other Members of Congress regarding alleged election fraud. The ruling narrows the ability of investigators to scrutinize Perry's phone while still allowing them to continue their efforts to access the material.