GOP Lawmakers Demand Records on the FBI's Attempt to Gather Phone Data on Senators

Republican lawmakers are demanding more records from the FBI on its Biden-era efforts to obtain phone data on GOP senators for its sweeping anti-Trump investigation.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R., Wisc.) led a group of GOP lawmakers in asking the Trump administration for all records related to the FBI's monitoring of GOP senators during its "Arctic Frost" investigation into Trump's role in the January 6th, 2021, Capitol riot.

"Given that these materials relate to an unprecedented collection of records and information on sitting MOCs and raise serious constitutional concerns, Congress’ need for these records clearly outweighs any interest in secrecy," the lawmakers wrote, referring to members of Congress.

"Further, the unprecedented nature of the DOJ’s and FBI’s actions in collecting MOC’s communication records falls squarely within Congress’ constitutional duty to thoroughly investigate potential abuses of power and creates a uniquely exceptional circumstance that demands the release of otherwise protected records."

The lawmakers are asking Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to turn over the records in their possession and to request access to records subject to grand jury secrecy requirements. All of the senators targeted by the FBI's "Arctic Frost" investigation and all Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee joined the letter.

The GOP senators are requesting communications among DOJ and FBI personnel, and their communications with numerous outside parties, such as the Biden White House and Special Counsel Jack Smith's office.

The FBI analyzed phone records and other communications by Senators Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Bill Hagerty (Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville (Ala.), Ron Johnson (Wisc.), and Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), according to an FBI document Grassley released earlier this month.. Representative Mike Kelly (R., Pa.) was also in the FBI's crosshairs as part of the anti-Trump investigation.

The FBI's "Arctic Frost" probe examined the senators's phone records from January 4-7th, 2021. Several of the lawmakers targeted were supporters of Trump's false claims that he won the 2020 presidential election. All of the GOP senators involved have called for accountability, with some demanding criminal prosecutions for the FBI's activities.

Patel announced last week that he fired agents from the FBI's Washington Field Office involved with tracking the GOP senators during the investigation. He also disbanded the anti-corruption unit involved with analyzing the phone records.

"We fired those who acted unethically, dismantled the corrupt CR-15 squad, and launched an investigation. Transparency and accountability aren’t slogans, they’re promises kept," Patel said. He did not provide the names of those fired.

Anti-Trump FBI agent Timothy Thibault kickstarted the "Arctic Frost" probe in 2022 and it soon morphed into Special Counsel Jack Smith's Washington, D.C., criminal case against Trump. Grassley previously released records showing the "Arctic Frost" investigation covered 92 GOP organizations and GOP-linked operatives, including the late Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA.

Smith's case against Trump was significantly delayed by litigation last year that resulted in the Supreme Court's ruling granting the president criminal immunity for official acts. After Trump won the 2024 election, Smith ended his cases and resigned before Trump could fire him.