U.S. Citizen Faces Federal Charge After Phone Allegedly Wiped During Atlanta Airport Search
Sam Tunick, a US citizen, is facing charges for allegedly using a 'duress password' to wipe his phone at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. The incident occurred on January 24, 2025, when federal agents detained Tunick, reportedly questioning him about child exploitation images. Tunick's lawyers argue that the detention was a pretext to investigate his connections to the Stop Cop City movement in Atlanta. The government is using a rarely invoked statute that prohibits destroying property to prevent its seizure. Tunick's defense claims the search was unlawful, lacking a warrant and legal rights advisement. 
