Overview
- CBP seized Andrew and Tristan Tate’s electronic devices upon their February arrival in Fort Lauderdale and transferred them to Homeland Security Investigations, a DHS spokesperson confirmed.
- ProPublica reported that Paul Ingrassia, then the White House liaison to DHS and a former Tate lawyer, sent a written request telling senior officials to return the devices and indicated the request came from the White House.
- Current and former law‑enforcement officials described such outreach as highly unusual, with a retired HSI assistant director calling it an intimidation tactic, according to the reporting.
- Ingrassia and his attorney deny that he intervened or invoked the White House, and the brothers’ lawyer says the devices have not been returned and dismisses the report as a nothingburger.
- Ingrassia previously represented the Tates, withdrew from consideration to lead the Office of Special Counsel after leaked racist texts, and was named deputy general counsel at the General Services Administration this month.