Former special counsel Jack Smith tracked the private phone communications of nearly a dozen Republican senators during his investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) revealed Monday.
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino briefed lawmakers Monday afternoon on Capitol Hill, saying Smith’s team tracked phone records and calls from major carriers in 2023 under the investigation codenamed “Arctic Frost.” The effort included “toll analysis” on calls made by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and others.
“What I’ve uncovered today is disturbing and outrageous political conduct by the Biden FBI,” Grassley said Monday afternoon. “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.”
An internal FBI document dated Sept. 27, 2023, showed Smith’s team tracked the origin, destination, and timing of calls involving the lawmakers. Officials said the surveillance related to lawmakers’ communications around the certification of the 2020 election.
Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel said the records were discovered during a broader review in response to a congressional oversight request and that they moved quickly to notify those targeted.
FBI’S INVESTIGATION TARGETED TURNING POINT USA, GRASSLEY SAYS
Smith’s Jan. 6 case against then-candidate Donald Trump was dismissed after Trump’s reelection last year. The special counsel’s investigations cost taxpayers more than $50 million, according to public statements of expenditures from the DOJ.
The revelation comes just weeks after Patel revealed to Grassley that the Arctic Frost operation involved the targeting of 92 conservative organizations.
This is a developing story and will be updated.