Dem VA prosecutor in Stephen Miller doxing, intimidation case backs defense’s ask to not have FBI search suspect’s phone

Earlier this week, Magistrate Judge Lindsey Vaala did not give the FBI a warrant to obtain information from the smartphone of the 66-year-old activist, Barbara Wien. She has been accused of doxing Miller and his family. The FBI is pushing to investigate Wien's communications to see if she is part of a group that would threaten Miller as well as his family, per Axios.

Additionally, a left-wing prosecutor in Arlington, Virginia, Democrat Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, in an unusual move just weeks ago, sided with the defense, asking a judge to limit the FBI search of Wien's phone. That argument persuaded another state judge to limit what information can be sought after by the FBI on Wien's phone.

A senior Trump administration official stated, "The position of the judge and the justice system in Northern Virginia is, Stephen Miller deserves this, so it shouldn't be investigated. This is just about gathering evidence to see if there should be an arrest. And the judges are blocking it."

Wien's defense lawyer said she didn't break any laws and is only an academic "in the field of peace studies." Miller, like many other Trump administration officials, has moved from their homes in various locations to military housing as they have faced increased threats and doxing. Miller's move comes as the case against Wien has taken place.

"A lot of administration officials feel it's a problem that you have to live in Virginia or D.C. or Maryland. But the criminal justice system will not protect you and your family," a White House official stated.

Wien placed flyers around her neighborhood, and listed Miller's home address, with a red circle and a cross through Miller. The leaflets read, "NO NAZIS IN NOVA." The flyer also had a QR code to the activist group Arlington Neighbors United for Humanity.

Wien also walked in front of Miller's home, and made the "I'm watching you," gesture towards Miller’s wife, with her two fingers pointing at her eyes, evidence from Secret Service video shows. The encounter also took place 24 hours after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah.

Police seized Wien's phone on October 1, and she spoke to FBI officials. They later said she misled investigators and asked for another warrant, which Vaala has denied. The judge has also donated to the campaigns of former President Obama and Biden before being appointed to the court.

The left-wing prosecutor, Dehghani-Tafti, also did not take kindly to the FBI's involvement in the case, and said there should be limits on what they can access, arguing the same as Wien's defense.

The lawyer's social media is riddled with negative posts about Trump as well as Miller, and follows the activist group that Wien is a part of. The prosecutor told Axios, "[I] performed my duties with integrity and objectivity, and I continue to do so. I have acted in every way to uphold the rule of law."

A counselor to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin told Axios of the case, "A prosecutor is usually on the same team as the investigators trying to make a case. But in this case, it's the opposite. She's been stymying the investigation, it appears."