White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller speaks with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
One of President Donald Trump's top advisors felt that a 65-year-old activist in northern Virginia was trying to threaten them by distributing pamphlets to their neighbors, so they had the activist's phone seized and searched, according to a new report.
Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, and his wife, Katie, felt so threatened by 65-year-old liberal activist Barbara Wien that they had her phone confiscated by Virginia State Police in August, The New York Times reported. The police obtained a search warrant for the phone and have used it to find evidence whether she meant to "threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence" by disclosing the Millers' address, which would be a misdemeanor in the state.
According to the report, Wien distributed pamphlets to the Millers' neighbors opposing some of the Trump administration's policies. It claimed that Miller was “wanted for crimes against humanity" and included the slogan "No Nazis in NOVA."
It also describes a time when Wien approached a neighboring home and "pointed her finger" at Katie Miller, who was watching from across the street. Katie Miller took the gesture to mean, "I am watching you," according to the report.
A local judge has paused the police's search of Wien's phone as lawyers argue over the extent of the searches. It remains unclear when Wiens will get her phone back.