Special counsel Robert Mueller has asked witnesses in the Russia probe to hand over their personal cell phones in order to collect possible information from encrypted messaging applications.
It’s unclear if Mueller’s team has found anything improper in the phone grab, but they are reportedly hoping to gain access to personal conversations through encrypted messaging apps, according to Wednesday report by CNBC.
Mueller has been asking for witnesses’ phones since as early as April in order to examine apps such as WhatsApp, Dust, Signal, and Confide, according to CNBC’s source, who is speaking on condition of anonymity.
The request for personal phones comes after news that Mueller accused former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on Monday of tampering with witnesses via similar messaging apps.
The encrypted messaging apps aim to keep conversations private and even delete conversations after 24 hours.
Fearing a subpoena, all witnesses have complied with the request, CNBC’s sources say. However, the request is not unusual, according to experts.
“It’s just more typical for law enforcement to ask for consent for the obvious reason because it’s much easier than applying to a court to get judicial permission,” Robert Ray told CNBC. Ray acted as independent counsel during the Bill Clinton Whitewater investigation. (RELATED: Paul Manafort’s Friends Create Legal Defense Fund To Fight Mueller Probe)
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