Des Moines Sun

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has released a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) document showing that the FBI, under the direction of Jack Smith and during the Biden administration, obtained cell phone tolling data from eight Republican senators and one congressman. This action was part of the Arctic Frost investigation into former President Donald Trump.

The lawmakers whose records were obtained 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.).

Earlier in the year, Grassley had made public whistleblower records that revealed details about the Arctic Frost investigation. According to these records, the investigation was initiated by FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault and other officials described as partisan. Grassley's oversight efforts also disclosed that the FBI acquired President Trump's government cell phone before he became a subject of their investigation. The probe reportedly targeted nearly 100 Republican organizations and individuals.

Grassley, along with Senator Ron Johnson and 16 other bicameral colleagues, has called on the Department of Justice and FBI to release all records related to this targeting of lawmakers.

Following calls for accountability, FBI Director Kash Patel reviewed these allegations. As a result, Patel dismantled CR-15, the Public Corruption Unit responsible for Arctic Frost, and fired agents involved in what was described as an unacceptable privacy breach against members of Congress.

At a recent Judiciary Committee meeting, Grassley stated:

“Rest assured, this investigation is yielding results thanks to whistleblowers. I’ve done four public document productions about Arctic Frost. Starting with the information that has been made public, it’s exposed historic political misconduct to the American public. As a result, the FBI is investigating and has fired agents for misconduct. And the CR-15 unit at the Washington Field Office, which originated Arctic Frost, has been shut down. So, there’s already been some accountability because of Director Patel, and I would expect more will come. My investigation is very active, and I’ll have more to share this month.”

The developments have received national media attention across several outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, New York Post, Fox News, CBS News, Washington Times, The Hill, National Review, Radio Iowa, WSMV Tennessee, Deseret News Utah, 1819 News Alabama, The Keystone Pennsylvania, Antlers Arch Wyoming, and St. Louis Dispatch Missouri.