As part of an FBI investigation from 2023 dubbed operation “Arctic Frost,” agents obtained phone data from eight Republican senators and one Republican representative from Jan. 4 through Jan. 7, 2021, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office.
The Arctic Frost investigation formed the basis of special counsel Jack Smith’s elector case against Donald Trump. Smith indicted Trump with four felony counts based on findings from Arctic Frost, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
The data collected shows when and to whom senators made calls, as well as how long the calls were and where they were made from. The data does not include the content of the calls.
Grassley, R-Iowa released a semi-redacted FBI document on Monday, labeled “Election Law Matters.”
Under “details,” the document reads, “FBI Special Agent (redacted) conducted preliminary toll analysis on limited tolls records associated with the following US Senators:”
- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
- Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.)
- Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)
- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.)
- Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)
- Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
- Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.)
Hawley referenced Grassley’s investigation on Tuesday during a hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said she was aware of the Biden-era FBI probe and was investigating with FBI Director Kash Patel.
“We already know that this was ordered by the special prosecutor Jack Smith who reported directly to the Attorney General Merrick Garland,” Hawley said. “We know that Jack Smith was on this witch hunt because he was directed to do so by the president of the United States, Joe Biden.”
The FBI “tapped my phone, tapped Lindsay Graham’s phone, tapped Marsha Blackburn’s phone, tapped five other phones of United States senators,” Hawley continued.
“So here you have an administration that is activating the FBI against its political opponents and tapping the phones of United States senators.”
Grassley said the document is “disturbing and outrageous political conduct by the Biden FBI.”
He added, “The FBI’s actions were an unconstitutional breach, and Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel need to hold accountable those involved in this serious wrongdoing.”