FBI seizes phone of Oath Keepers lawyer in 'seditious conspiracy' investigation: Attorney who was at the Capitol on January 6 slams the move as 'unethical'
The FBI has seized the phone of a Texas attorney who volunteered for Lawyers for Trump and served as general counsel for the radical-right Oath Keepers organization as part of 'seditious conspiracy' investigation.
Kellye SoRelle, a close associate of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, was at the US Capitol during the January 6 riot and addressed the crowd in a speech repeating the false claims that Joe Biden had 'stolen' the election from Donald Trump.
This week, her iPhone was seized by the feds under an August 30 search warrant which cited an investigation into seditious conspiracy, civil disorder, false statements, destruction of government property, obstruction of Congress, and unlawful entry on restricted buildings or grounds.'
The seditious conspiracy charge refers to two or more people conspiring to overthrow or destroy the US government by force. It can also refer to hindering or delaying 'the execution of any law' and seizing possession of a federal building by force.
SoRelle appeared to brush off the potential charge but called the seizure 'frustrating.'
She told the Huffington Post: 'They either think I am the mastermind, or they wanted a free dig through everything - either way it is unethical.'
'I have so much stuff in there, (it's) nuts' SoRelle added. She called the device 'kinda a repository of truth.'
SoRelle, an attorney whose practice is based in Granbury, Texas, referred to her phone as a 'kinda a repository of truth' while speaking to the Huffington Post, adding, 'I have so much stuff in there, (it's) nuts.' She further speculated: 'They either think I am the mastermind, or they wanted a free dig through everything - either way it is unethical'
The phone was taken at a two-hour meeting with two agents at a 'Kroger/Starbucks'. Investigators believe it will provide a treasure trove of evidence for investigators.
The seizure of a lawyer's smartphone is not something taken lightly by the authorities and would have necessitated special protocols within the Justice Department. It also raises hurdles for prosecutors.
After the FBI confiscated the phone of Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani's phone in April, a 'special master' was appointed to determine which communications were to be protected by attorney-client privilege.
So far, the seizure has not led to any charges against SoRelle.
Meanwhile 17 members of the Oath Keepers have been charged with civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding for the siege on Congress.
Rhodes is expected to be arrested in connection with the Capitol attack.
SoRelle does not represent any of the defendants, but has openly raised money for their legal fees and served as a media contact for the group.
The attorney was highly visible at Rhodes' side in the days leading up to the Capitol assault and stood by his side while he addressed followers in Washington at a 'Freedom Rally' just hours before the building was stormed.
SoRelle is a close associate of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes (pictured), who was at the US Capitol during the January 6 riot and addressed the crowd in a speech repeating the false claims that Joe Biden had 'stolen' the election from Donald Trump
The FBI has made more than 600 arrests in connection with the January 6 attack; and in at least one other case, a search warrant application connected to the those who attended the riots has referenced 'seditious conspiracy'
She also delivered her own speech the same demanding new ballots be cast from coast-to-coast and deriding the recent November elections as 'stolen' - including Joe Biden's victory over former President Donald Trump.
'No one can be deemed legitimate at this point,' SoRelle said. 'Any action taken by any elected official at this point is illegitimate, is theft... We have no duty to comply going forward.'
After Trump's re-election loss, she joined a lawsuit that sought to keep him in office, in part by likening the ex-president to a king from the Lord of the Rings' fictional kingdom of Gondor.
The lawsuit was swiftly dismissed.
The FBI has made more than 600 arrests in connection with the January 6 attack, with hundreds more cases currently under investigation.
None of the participants in the January 6 attack have been charged with 'seditious conspiracy' as yet - with most facing allegations of obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder.
At least one other search warrant related to the attack has referenced 'seditious conspiracy,' but those charges have yet to be brought, according to Seamus Hughes of George Washington University's Program On Extremism, which has maintained a database of the hundreds of court cases brought in connection with the Capitol attack.
