GOP Congressman Responds After Shocking FBI Raid On His Home

FBI agents have escalated their investigation into Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN) by executing a search warrant at his Tennessee residence, just as the first-term Republican grapples with allegations of falsifying campaign financial reports. This follows Ogles’ recent victory over Courtney Johnston in the Republican primary, even as he eyes a second term in the U.S. Congress.

Ogles took to social media on Wednesday to disclose that his cell phone had been seized during the raid. However, the FBI has maintained silence on the matter, with a spokesperson directing all inquiries to the U.S.

“It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings. We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward,” Ogles wrote.

“Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone. It is my understanding that they are investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings. 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.”

It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings. We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward. Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone.…

— Congressman Andy Ogles (@AndyOgles) August 6, 2024

Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Interestingly, local law enforcement in Maury County, where Ogles resides, claimed to be in the dark about the search, though they acknowledged that a warrant was executed in the area recently according to NewsChannel 5.

Andy Ogles

Despite the high-profile nature of the investigation, residents in Ogles’ rural neighborhood reported no unusual activities surrounding his home at the time of the search. This incident has sparked significant interest given its timing: Department of Justice guidelines typically discourage overt actions in political investigations within 60 days of an election.

Ogles was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2022, representing Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, which includes parts of Nashville and stretches south through more conservative areas. Before his election to Congress, Ogles served as the mayor of Maury County, Tennessee, where he was known for his fiscal conservatism and opposition to federal mandates related to healthcare and education.

NewsChannel 5 reported:

Back in May, Ogles filed a series of amended campaign financial reports, admitting he had not personally loaned his campaign $320,000 as he had reported back in 2022.

Other amendments to his campaign financial reports resulted in Ogles retracting claims regarding thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and expenditures that he had previously reported to the Federal Election Commission.

That development came several months after NewsChannel 5 Investigates raised questions about whether Ogles had the financial resources to make that personal loan. Despite having reported making the $320,000 personal loan, Ogles’ personal financial disclosures did not show any substantial investments — not even a savings account.

A watchdog group, the Campaign Legal Center, later filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, comparing Ogles’ conduct to disgraced New York Congressman George Santos…

Regarding the FBI investigation, Ogles said: “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.”

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