smartphones

Also written as: two smartphones · the phones · his phones · the devices · phone devices

Involved in

• CBP seized Blumenthal’s phone devices to extract information on his sources, communications with sources, and journalist methods for conducting fieldwork and reporting, and disclosure could endanger sources, compromise ongoing investigations, and impair his ability to assure current and prospective sources that their identities and communications will remain confidential.

• CBP’s warrantless seizure and continued retention of Blumenthal’s phones violate the First and Fourth Amendments and the Privacy Protection Act.

• When Blumenthal declined to provide the passcodes to his two phones because doing so could compromise his constitutional rights and confidential sources, an officer said the devices would be “hook[ed] up to machines” to extract their data.

• Loomer celebrated the seizure and described Blumenthal as a national security threat after CBP seized his phones on July 14.

• CBP seized the phones but left Blumenthal’s laptop and camera untouched, despite claiming to be searching for evidence of criminal activity or child sexual material.

• Border-search authority cannot be used to punish disfavored journalism or expose confidential sources, and the government must return Blumenthal’s phones and any information obtained from them.

• The motion seeks the immediate return of both devices and all information or copies obtained from them under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g), along with an expedited hearing because the seizure is interfering with Blumenthal’s work, chilling his reporting, and threatening the confidentiality of his sources and unpublished reporting.

Statements attributed to it

Nothing in the record is attributed to this entity as a speaker.

Origin: first recognised while reading ADC sues DHS Secretary Mullin over illegal CBP seizure of Max Blumenthal’s devices · 2026-07-23 07:04