General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFBI Seized Congressional Cellphone Records
Within hours of the storming of the Capitol on January 6, the FBI began securing thousands of phone and electronic records connected to people at the scene of the rioting including some related to members of Congress, raising potentially thorny legal questions, The Intercept reports.
Using special emergency powers and other measures, the FBI has collected reams of private cellphone data and communications that go beyond the videos that rioters shared widely on social media.
..................
The cellphone data includes many records from the members of Congress and staff members who were at the Capitol that day to certify President Joe Bidens election victory. The FBI is searching cell towers and phones pinging off cell sites in the area to determine visitors to the Capitol, a recently retired senior FBI official told The Intercept. The data is also being used to map links between suspects, which include members of Congress, they also said. (Capitol Police are reportedly investigating whether lawmakers helped rioters gain access to the Capitol as several Democrats have alleged they did, though Republican officials deny this.)
The Justice Department has publicly said that its task force includes senior public corruption officials. That involvement indicates a focus on public officials, i.e. Capitol Police and members of Congress, the retired FBI official said.
https://politicalwire.com/2021/02/22/fbi-seized-congressional-cellphone-records/
https://theintercept.com/2021/02/22/capitol-riot-fbi-cellphone-records/
OnDoutside
(19,949 posts)demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)we know they are part of it
efhmc
(14,725 posts)Looks like not much so far.
kpete
(71,978 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,262 posts)efhmc
(14,725 posts)H2O Man
(73,524 posts)Such investigations do not -- indeed, can not -- be completed quickly. But quite a few of the Trump cult have already been charged. Good investigators & prosecutors always work from the bottom up. It is unrealistic to think that anyone from Congress would have been charged this soon.
triron
(21,988 posts)East-A-Squared
(14,505 posts)some explaining to do.
SergeStorms
(19,190 posts)I wouldn't be surprised if he was in contact with some of those "patriots".
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)FakeNoose
(32,610 posts)But in any case, I'm glad they're doing it now.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)So they did start right away.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)So...maybe the Patriot Act has an up-side...
Blue Owl
(50,325 posts)SunSeeker
(51,545 posts)lpbk2713
(42,750 posts)Anyone who suggested such a thing would be fired immediately.