GOP Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee says FBI took his cellphone in campaign finance probe

Ogles is a Trump supporter who just defeated a Republican challenger last week to his seat in Congress

August 6, 2024

Associated Press,

By JONATHAN MATTISE
Associated Press

Abstract:
Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee says the FBI took his cellphone in an investigation of issues in his campaign finance reporting. The first-term member of the conservative Freedom Caucus said Tuesday on X that the FBI took his phone last Friday. He promised to fully cooperate, saying he already has with the Federal Election Commission. The day before, Ogles had parlayed an endorsement from former President Donald Trump to defeat a Republican primary opponent. Ogles said he believes the FBI is investigating mistakes in initial financial filings widely reported for months. For example, Ogles in recent months adjusted a 2022 report to remove a $320,000 loan. The FBI has declined to comment.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee said Tuesday that the FBI took his cellphone in an investigation into issues with his campaign finance reporting.

The first-term member of the conservative Freedom Caucus said on the social platform X that the FBI took his phone last Friday and he promised to fully cooperate with the agency, saying he already has done so with the Federal Election Commission.

Behind the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, Ogles had just defeated an opponent in a Republican primary election the day before.

Ogles said his understanding is that the FBI is investigating “mistakes in our initial financial filings” that have been “widely reported for months.” Among the discrepancies: Ogles had reported that he loaned his 2022 campaign $320,000, but in recent months adjusted the report to remove the loan.

“I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more,” Ogles said in the post.

An FBI spokesperson said that under Justice Department policy, it could not confirm nor deny an investigation, and referred questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. An official with the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment.

Ogles faces Democrat Maryam Abolfazli in the November election.

Ogles won the seat in 2022 after Republicans redrew the state’s congressional districts to their advantage after the last census, splitting the heavily Democratic Nashville area into three seats and forcing Nashville’s then-Democratic congressman, Jim Cooper, into retirement.

Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.

AP – 2024-08-06T21:06:10.529Z