Reporter Max Blumenthal Challenges Border Seizure of Phones in Court

Max Blumenthal, founder of the Grayzone, was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Dulles Airport on July 10 and subjected to a secondary inspection that included the seizure of his two cell phones, while his laptop and cameras were left untouched. The phones were returned after a week, following an emergency court filing by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, but the government claimed it could not access the data, rendering the motion moot.

On Wednesday, a federal judge granted Blumenthal’s request for the agency to produce evidence of who possessed the phones, when, and what actions were taken, noting that Fourth Circuit law requires a warrant for “advanced” searches of electronic devices. Freedom-of-the-press advocates argue the incident reflects a broader pattern of the Trump administration targeting unfavorable journalists. The judge also suggested an expert examination of the phones for possible tampering, a costly step Blumenthal is pursuing. The hearing referenced recent disputes over subpoenas to New York Times reporters, underscoring growing concerns about governmental intrusion into journalistic sources.