Federal prosecutors win yearlong fight for access to indicted Ron Paul aide's Gmail account

A judge is allowing federal prosecutors to obtain emails of a once-powerful Republican consultant from Google Inc.

U.S. District Judge John Jarvey rejected a request Friday to quash a warrant ordering Google to give prosecutors the contents of Jesse Benton's Gmail account, which he used to work on Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign and Sen. Mitch McConnell's 2014 re-election.

Benton and two others face charges in Iowa stemming from the 2012 campaign. Benton led presidential candidate Rand Paul's super PAC until his indictment this month.

Google told Benton last year it would comply with the warrant unless challenged. Benton did, arguing it was overly broad.

A magistrate upheld the warrant this month. Google didn't produce the records, giving Benton time to appeal. A Google attorney said Friday it would comply.