The FBI raided the Project Veritas founder’s home as part of its investigation into the ‘stolen’ diary of Ashley Biden
A federal judge is siding with Project Veritas over its request for an independent party to review the cellphones the FBI seized from the group’s founder James O’Keefe.
On Wednesday, District Court Judge Analisa Torres from the Southern District of New York is ordering a “special master” to be appointed to oversee the review of O’Keefe’s devices, citing “potential First Amendment concerns.”
FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS DOJ TO HALT DATA EXTRACTION FROM JAMES O’KEEFE’S PHONES FOLLOWING FBI RAID
“The Court recognizes, as other courts in this district have concluded, that ‘the Southern District prosecutors have integrity and decency,’ and the filter team alone could conduct the review ‘with utmost integrity,’” Torres wrote. “However, the Court determines that the appointment of a special master is warranted here because ‘it is important that the procedure adopted… not only be fair but also appear to be fair.’ … In light of the potential First Amendment concerns that may be implicated by the review of the materials seized from Petitioners, the Court finds that the appointment of a special master will ‘help to protect the public’s confidence in the administration of justice.'”
BOOM!!! Federal court orders the appointment of a special master to review materials seized from Project Veritas in the DOJ’s Ashley Biden Diary case… despite DOJ objections, court rules First Amendment protections support our client’s request. Great work by Paul Calli and team! pic.twitter.com/mEreTL9OwM
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) December 8, 2021
“The appointment of a Special Master over the objections of the Department of Justice is further evidence of Government overreach in their heavy-handed violation of the First Amendment and journalistic privilege during the investigation of the purported theft of a diary belonging to the daughter of the President,” a representative for Project Veritas told Fox News in a statement.
“Project Veritas appreciates the ruling but continues to insist that the Government show the public why they conducted these raids and return legally privileged material immediately,” the representative added.
The judge previously ordered the Department of Justice to halt its review of O’Keefe’s phones pending Project Veritas’ request for a special master.
