A federal court is set to hear a dispute over the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) seizure of journalist Max Blumenthal’s mobile phones. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) will appear in court to request evidence regarding the CBP’s actions.

Background

Blumenthal was detained by CBP officers at Dulles International Airport on July 10 after returning from a reporting trip to Iran. The officers questioned him about his journalism, travel funding, and potential plans to return to Iran. When Blumenthal declined to provide passcodes for his phones, an officer stated that the devices would be connected to machines for data extraction. The phones were seized and returned a week later, after the ADC filed an emergency motion seeking their release.

The ADC argues that the seizure and retention of Blumenthal’s phones violated his rights under the First and Fourth Amendments, as well as the Privacy Protection Act. The group is seeking the production of chain-of-custody and forensic records, as well as an evidentiary hearing.

Government Response

The government maintains that the matter is now moot, as the phones have been returned. However, the ADC contends that the government’s declaration leaves key details unresolved, including the tools used to inspect the phones and the identities of those who handled them.

The upcoming hearing will address whether the government must disclose records detailing the scope of its inspection attempts and the handling of the devices while in federal custody.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.