Media outlets, First Amendment group ask Texas court to unseal Rep. Cuellar search warrant

A First Amendment group has filed a motion in federal court on behalf of several major news outlets to unseal the search warrant the FBI used to raid Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar's home and campaign office in January.

The group, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, is acting on behalf of the Associated Press, Gannett, Gray Media Group, Hearst and the Texas Tribune and has asked the Texas Southern District U.S. Court to unseal records related to the raid.

An attorney for Cuellar, who won his primary in June, has denied that the congressman was the target of the raid. Several outlets have reported that a federal grand jury probe related to the country Azerbaijan prompted the raid.

Cuellar has served as co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.

"Reporters Committee attorneys are proud to represent the news organizations urging the district court to unseal these search warrant records," the group also said. "Texas voters have a right to know – before they go to the polls – why federal investigators searched the home and campaign office of one of their congressmen."