Des Moines Sun

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has released information about 197 subpoenas issued by former Special Counsel Jack Smith and his team as part of the investigation into President Trump, known as “Arctic Frost.” The investigation, which began at the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the Biden administration, targeted communications and records from a wide range of Republican individuals and entities.

The subpoenas were disclosed to Grassley through whistleblower channels. They were sent to 34 individuals and 163 businesses, requesting testimony, communications, and records related to at least 430 named Republican individuals and organizations. Requested materials included communications with media companies such as CBS, Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax, Sinclair, among others; exchanges with members or agents of the U.S. Legislative Branch; interactions with White House advisors like Stephen Miller, Dan Scavino, Jared Kushner, Lara Trump; statistical data on donors and fundraising; and broad financial data concerning conservative figures and groups.

Grassley revealed these details during a press conference alongside Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

During the press conference Grassley stated:

“Arctic Frost was the vehicle by which partisan FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors could improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus. Contrary to what [Jack] Smith has said publicly, this was clearly a fishing expedition.

“If this happened to the Democrats, they’d be as rightly outraged as we are.

“We’re making these records public in the interest of transparency and so that the American people can draw their own conclusions.”

A comprehensive list of subpoenaed organizations and individuals is available online through documents compiled by Senate Judiciary Committee staff. Copies of Smith’s subpoenas have also been made public.

Grassley’s oversight activities regarding Arctic Frost have included responses to requests for hearings from Jack Smith; revelations that senior officials such as Garland, Monaco, and Wray approved opening Arctic Frost; demands for telecommunications companies to provide all records given to Smith; calls for release of Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI records related to investigations targeting sitting members of Congress; disclosures that eight Republican senators were surveilled during Arctic Frost; oversight hearings highlighting allegations of political weaponization within the FBI; release of additional records showing cell phones belonging to Trump and Pence were obtained by investigators; emphasis on alleged FBI supervisor misconduct in connection with Arctic Frost; statements on nominations for key law enforcement positions; and publication of whistleblower documents suggesting efforts within DOJ and FBI aimed at implicating Trump in election-related cases.