Chief District Judge William Campbell, who oversees the Middle District of Tennessee for the U.S. District Court, did not respond to a Thursday inquiry from The Tennessee Star that sought information about the apparent leak of information related to the FBI search warrant executed on Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05).
Ogles confirmed on Tuesday the FBI executed a search warrant at his Maury County, Tennessee home to obtain his personal cell phone last Friday, less than 24 hours after he won the Tennessee Republican primary in a victory over his Never Trump-backed opponent.
When The Star contacted the FBI to confirm the search warrant was executed and obtain additional details, including a copy of the warrant signed by a Tennessee judge, the agency said it could not confirm the existence of the search warrant due to policies.
The Star received a similar response from Assistant District Attorney Mark Wildasin, who said Department of Justice (DOJ) policy prevented him from sharing information.
Despite the judge who signed the warrant determining it should remain sealed, Nashville journalist Phil Williams shared news of the FBI action against Ogles at the E.W. Scripps-owned NewsChannel 5.
Williams did not describe how he learned of the search warrant in his article but claimed one Maury County law enforcement source “was told that the FBI had executed a search warrant somewhere in the county in recent days.”
Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland told The Star on Tuesday, “I was not aware of any search warrant regarding Rep. Andy Ogles.”
Campbell did not respond when asked if he or any of the judges he oversees knew the identity of the person or group who leaked the sealed information, nor did he explain whether an investigation would be launched or if there would be professional or criminal consequences for those responsible.
In a statement, Ogles said the FBI search warrant was for an investigation related to early campaign filings he has worked to amend.
“It is my understanding that they are investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings,” said Ogles. “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.”
The FBI has yet to respond to a request for a copy of the search warrant, which The Star submitted on Tuesday.
– – –
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 [email protected].
Photo “Andy Ogles” by Andy Ogles.
Phil Williams has sought out to destroy Andy since being elected. Phil is Nashville’s well known stalker. He is creepy and causes problems for anyone he doesn’t like.
I wouldn’t doubt that Phil was a big player in instigating the weaponized 3 letter team biden/harris/walz/ demoncratic party (district, state, nation wide) working with the left wing dc non profit deep swamp “Campaign Legal Center” who are governed by extreme leftists to pursue in harassing Andy who beat rino Metro Nashville’s Courtney Johnston in the primary.
I have always felt Phil is jealous of Andy. Phil was born in Columbia and is a gossip columnist. His employer EW Scripps has donated much more to the demoncrat party so it’s no wonder why news channel 5 is so bias. I haven’t watched the clown show in years.
Phil Williams can’t let go of the reigns of involving himself in election finance. We all know his wife was the executive director of the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. She was fired for 4 DUI convictions, sentenced to serve time in jail, pay fines costs, loss of license and ordered to be undercare at Vanderbilt drug/alcohol treatment center.
Did Phil play the part as co-captain in election finance under his wife watch? Someone was propping her up during her drunken days. Does Phil hold a grudge when she was terminated from her job? Sadly, she was found dead some years later.
Hillary and Obama election financial scandals didn’t make headlines. Conservatives are targeted and it will get much worse (Courtney Johnston is not conservative by any means).
The radical leftists and their outrageous ideologies are spreading like poison throughout Middle TN and sadly our communities are suffering.
Andy Ogles is just the latest victim and just like President Trump warned, “In reality they are really coming for you, I’m just standing in their way.” We all know they have done everything possible to take DJT out and don’t be foolish to think they will stop.
We all heard the threats from Biden, Schumer, Raskin to keep DJT from becoming elected.
In District 5 they are trying to take down our guy Andy Ogles.
It’s time for Phil Williams to step down from his imaginary post. He creates chaos and does more harm than good. He reminds me of Adam Schiff.
Jesus has warned us, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves”