Des Moines Sun

An FBI document obtained by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, shows that the FBI collected phone tolling data from eight Republican senators and one Republican House member as part of its Arctic Frost investigation. The data covered calls made between January 4 and January 7, 2021, and included information such as call times, recipients, durations, and general locations. However, it did not include the content of the calls.

The Arctic Frost investigation was initially opened in April 2022 by Timothy Thibault and later assigned to Special Counsel Jack Smith in November 2022. This investigation served as a basis for Jack Smith’s case regarding electors against former President Donald Trump.

According to Grassley’s office, the FBI accessed this tolling data through a system known as Prohibited Access files. These files are designed to restrict access within the agency by making certain documents inaccessible to most agents. The existence of these files was brought to light following oversight requests from Grassley.

The members of Congress whose phone records were targeted include Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.).

Grassley commented on these findings: “Based on the evidence to-date, Arctic Frost and related weaponization by federal law enforcement under Biden was arguably worse than Watergate.

“What I’ve uncovered today is disturbing and outrageous political conduct by the Biden FBI. 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.

“I started the Arctic Frost investigation in July 2022 after hearing from whistleblowers. It’s taken years to get records and advance my investigation, but what the public is seeing now demonstrates the importance of congressional oversight and whistleblowers. My whistleblowers deserve great thanks for what they’ve helped expose. None of this would have been known without them.”

Earlier disclosures revealed that during its Arctic Frost probe, the FBI also acquired government cell phones belonging to Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence with assistance from White House officials. Agents reportedly traveled across the country conducting interviews related to this investigation using taxpayer funds.

Last month, Grassley released records indicating that 92 individuals or groups linked with Republicans—including organizations like Turning Point USA—were also investigated under Arctic Frost.

Previous updates on Grassley's oversight efforts include public releases about whistleblower reports concerning Department of Justice activities tied to Jack Smith's elector case against Trump; statements about nominations for key positions such as Kash Patel for FBI Director; allegations regarding misconduct among supervisors involved in Arctic Frost; documentation showing how Trump’s and Pence’s phones were obtained; details about broad interviews conducted during the probe; as well as additional hearings focused on alleged political weaponization at what has been described as "Biden's FBI."