Using a VPN provider in a country outside US jurisdiction would be recommended. Sure, they can also request the data from there with enough political pressure,

Using a VPN provider in a country outside US jurisdiction would be recommended. Sure, they can also request the data from there with enough political pressure, but it is about putting up barriers. This screams of government being acutely overstrained as it is but no reason to give them a hand with such deed. You should also search for this person too. They requested data and data should be served.