Court restricts Jack Smith's access to GOP Rep. Perry's phone data in Jan. 6 probe

Special Counsel Jack Smith may obtain limited access to Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry's cell phone data, a court has determined.

The ruling from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals remains under seal, but reportedly overturns a ruling from a lower court that could have granted the special counsel access to substantially more data from the device, according to The Messenger.

Perry, a key leader in the House Freedom Caucus and close ally of former President Donald Trump, objected to counting his state's electoral votes in the 2020 presidential contest. He reportedly sought a preemptive pardon from Trump after the events of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The FBI seized his cell phone in August 2022.

Smith's pursuit of access to Perry's phone data comes as part of his broader probe into the former president's efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results.

He has already brought charges against Trump, who has pleaded not guilty and contended that Smith's probe is merely a political witch hunt to derail his 2024 bid for the White House.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.