Federal prosecutors withdraw from Andy Ogles investigation where FBI seized phone
The federal prosecutors in Middle Tennessee investigating U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles are backing off the case.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee filed motions in federal court on Thursday to withdraw from the criminal investigation of Ogles. The move comes months after the office obtained warrants to seize Ogles' cell phone and email account which were then executed by the FBI.
Ogles, R-Columbia, has stated he believes the investigation centered around his federal campaign finance filings. Ogles has not been charged with a crime in relation to the investigation.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alistair Newbern approved the motions to withdraw on Friday, signaling the end of the office's involvement in the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office would not explain to The Tennessean why it chose to withdraw from the case.
It's not immediately clear what the move means for the future of the Ogles' investigation, but an attorney still remains on the case for now.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire stated in the filings that John P. Taddei, an attorney with the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice based out of Washington, is going to take over as lead prosecutor.
Court filings state FBI agents executed the search warrant and took Ogles' phone on Aug. 2, 2024, the day after he won the Republican primary for his Congressional seat.
Ogles has asked the DOJ to return the cell phone so that he can identify protected legislative materials he says are on them.
For more than two years, Ogles has faced scrutiny and multiple complaints over his federal campaign finance disclosures, including a Federal Election Commission complaint alleging a 'pattern of malfeasance' in his financial dealings in 2022, and $5,750 in civil penalties for campaign finance violations after the 2022 cycle.
Vivian Jones and Melissa Brown contributed.
Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Andy Ogles investigation: Federal prosecutors withdraw from case
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