Documents that have recently come to light suggest that the FBI, under the Biden administration, conducted a secret investigation targeting over 160 Republican politicians and allies of former President Trump. This probe, reportedly related to “possible 2020 election-related crimes,” was known internally as “Arctic Frost.”
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a Republican, made public the 197 subpoenas the FBI secured during this investigation. He described the operation as “nothing short of a Biden administration enemies list.”
Grassley stated at a press conference that “Arctic Frost was the vehicle by which partisan FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors could improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus.” He further alleged that the investigation was a “fishing expedition,” implying that it was conducted without sufficient cause or evidence.
The documents obtained through Arctic Frost were later used by Special Counsel Jack Smith to bring criminal charges against President Donald Trump concerning alleged efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Individuals who faced scrutiny in the Arctic Frost investigation included high-ranking officials from the Trump White House, such as Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, and White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, commented on the breadth of the investigation, stating, “What we’ve learned is it was much broader, much more expansive, than we ever thought.” Jordan has expressed a desire to question Jack Smith under oath before the committee, stating, “Was this a political operation you guys were running against President Trump? How many other members of Congress did you spy on?”
Beyond individuals within the Trump administration, the investigation also targeted over 111 people affiliated with Trump outside the government. This group included figures such as former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and former Trump attorney John Eastman.
Adding to the concern is the revelation that the probe extended to over 90 conservative groups, including Turning Point USA and the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Critics argue that the released documents paint a disturbing picture: numerous loyal allies of President Trump were never accused of any crime, yet they were allegedly subjected to a politically motivated witch hunt by the FBI under the Biden administration.
Republicans are saying that these subpoenas were not about seeking justice but were instead a weaponized tactic aimed at intimidating, financially crippling, and silencing anyone who dared to question the 2020 election results.
They also argue that the Department of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Garland, effectively acted as an enforcement arm for the Democrat Party.
The operation was reportedly approved under FBI Director Chris Wray and later transitioned to Special Counsel Jack Smith in November 2022.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas revealed that the Arctic Frost probe secretly subpoenaed the phone records of at least eight Republican senators, including himself. These records allegedly included call logs, timestamps, and geolocation data, all without the senators’ knowledge.
According to Cruz, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a nondisclosure order, preventing AT&T from informing Cruz about the subpoena for “at least one year.” The stated reason was to avoid “risks” such as evidence destruction, witness intimidation, or jeopardizing the investigation. Cruz has denounced the order as baseless and an abuse of power, calling for Boasberg’s impeachment.
Notably, no charges resulted from these records.
Cruz stated, “We are going to get the answers of every person who signed off on this abuse of power, and mark my words, there will be accountability.”
Lanny A. Breuer, Jack Smith’s lawyer, stated that his client is open to testifying before Congress to answer any questions regarding his work as special counsel.
Breuer stated, “Jack is happy to discuss his work as Special Counsel and answer any questions at a public hearing just like every other Special Counsel investigating a president has done.”
