US Prosecutes Sam Tunick Over 2025 Airport Phone Wipe in Atlanta
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Jul 26
US Prosecutes Sam Tunick Over 2025 Airport Phone Wipe in Atlanta
3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Jul 26
Summary
Federal prosecutors say Sam Tunick triggered a wipe of his phone at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport on Jan. 24, 2025 by giving agents a GrapheneOS “duress password” instead of the real passcode.
A rarely used federal statute underpins the case, making it illegal to destroy or damage property to prevent authorities from seizing it.
Tunick’s lawyers argue the detention was an unlawful pretext to probe his ties to Atlanta’s Stop Cop City movement, not a legitimate child-exploitation inquiry.
The defense says agents denied Tunick a lawyer, gave no warrant and failed to advise him of his rights, and is seeking to suppress all evidence.
The government counters no warrant was required because Tunick had not yet been granted permission to enter the US, setting up a broader fight over digital privacy at the border.