The congressman previously claimed that law enforcement authorities violated his constitutional rights when they sequestered evidence from his staff. He argued that they violated the U.S. Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause, which protects members of Congress from arrest and prosecution based on their political views.
Last month, federal prosecutors amended their indictment against Rep. Collins. They removed “references to conduct” that the congressman argued is protected by the Speech and Debate Clause.
This month, a judge denied his request to review materials to prove that investigators violated that constitutional provision.
