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Judge unseals Pellicano search warrants

The judge overseeing the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping case has unsealed the search warrants and affidavits that the FBI used to raid the investigator’s office four years ago.U.S. District Court Judge Dale Fischer unsealed the documents Monday, enabling a detailed look at the items agents went looking for when they searched the Pellicano Investigative Agency on Sunset Boulevard.Chief among the e
/ Source: Hollywood Reporter

The judge overseeing the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping case has unsealed the search warrants and affidavits that the FBI used to raid the investigator’s office four years ago.

U.S. District Court Judge Dale Fischer unsealed the documents Monday, enabling a detailed look at the items agents went looking for when they searched the Pellicano Investigative Agency on Sunset Boulevard.

Chief among the evidence sought was any documents or records proving a relationship and transfer of money between Pellicano and Alexander Proctor, who was suspected of threatening journalist Anita Busch at the request of Pellicano. According to an informant, authorities believed that Busch was being targeted because of an article she was writing about Steven Seagal.

Two months before the November 2002 raid, FBI agents said they also learned that Vanity Fair contributing editor Ned Zeman, who also was working on an article about Seagal, had been threatened when a gun was pointed at him in traffic. He, too, believed the threat was related to the story he was pursuing, according to the documents.

The search warrant documents also detail the explosives that agents seized from Pellicano’s office as well as the numerous computers and hard drives he is suspected of using for the wiretapping.

Pellicano remains in custody on a 112-count indictment. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and refused to cooperate with authorities.

So far, 13 other clients and associates have been charged in this case, six of whom already have pleaded guilty, including director John McTiernan. McTiernan, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about having Pellicano wiretap producer Charles Roven, is scheduled to be sentenced July 31.