The Tennessee Star learned the controversial and allegedly politicized FBI on Friday executed a search warrant at the Maury County, Tennessee, home of Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05).
Ogles confirmed in a statement provided to The Star that the FBI executed a search warrant for his personal cell phone in an apparent investigation of his campaign filings.
“It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings. We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward,” stated Ogles, referencing amendments submitted over the course of this year to his earlier Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reports.
“Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone,” Ogles confirmed. “It is my understanding that they are investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings. I will of course fully cooperate with them, just as I have with the Federal Election Commission. I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more.”
Ogles later posted the statement on the social media platform X.
When The Star reached the FBI’s national press office, it declined to confirm that it executed the search warrant. A spokesman suggested that the U.S. District Attorney for Middle Tennessee could provide more information, but Assistant District Attorney Mark Wildasin told The Star that he could not comment due to policy.
A separate inquiry from The Star to the FBI, which sought a copy of the search warrant, was not answered.
It is unclear who the FBI informed of the search warrant before its execution, as Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland told The Star, “I was not aware of any search warrant regarding Rep. Andy Ogles.”
Similarly, a Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) spokesman told The Star, “Our agency is not involved in an investigation into Representative Andy Ogles.”
The police department in Columbia, where Ogles’ congressional office is located, did not immediately reply to The Star’s inquiry.
The search warrant was executed by the FBI just one day after the Trump-endorsed Republican sailed to victory against Never Trump-backed Nashville Council Member Courtney Johnston in the Tennessee Republican primary.
Ogles carried every county in the 5th Congressional District except Davidson County, where Nashville is located, which was one of just three Tennessee counties won by Biden in 2020.
It also came less than two weeks after Ogles introduced new articles of impeachment against Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging the Democratic presidential candidate committed “high crimes and misdemeanors” through her neglect of the southern border.
Due to her alleged systematic refusal “to uphold Federal immigration laws,” Ogles argued, “In her conduct of the Office of Vice President of the United States, Kamala Devi Harris… has willfully prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice.”
Ogles included a new article of impeachment in his June 2024 filing: Vice President Harris’s failure to lead a 25th Amendment removal of President Biden, whom Ogles argued was not cognitively capable of handling his duties, which Harris is keenly aware of.
Ogles first introduced articles of impeachment against Harris and President Joe Biden in June of last year and was among the Republicans who voted last month to condemn Harris for her failure to perform as the Biden administration’s border czar.
Last Friday, the same day the search warrant for Ogles’ phone was executed at his Maury County home, FBI Director Christopher Wray happened to be in Tennessee, where he conducted a tour of its field offices in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville.
“Keeping our communities safe is the most fundamental duty of all law enforcement, and it’s something the FBI cannot do alone,” stated Wray during his visit. He added, “I’m grateful for the strong, collaborative partnerships we have across the state of Tennessee.”
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to pappert.tom@proton.me.
Photo “Andy Ogles” by Andy Ogles. Background Photo “FBI Agent” by Tim Pierce. CC BY 2.0.