FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed on Monday that nearly 10 Republican senators and representatives allegedly had their private communications monitored by former special adviser Jack Smith during the Biden administration.
Documents obtained by Fox News indicate that Smith, who was part of the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigating the January 6, 2021 events, was involved with GOP Senators such as Lindsay Graham (SC), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Ron Johnson (WI), Josh Hawley (MO), Bill Haggerty (MO), Sullivan (AK), Tommy Tuberville (AL), and Mike Kelly (PA).
According to Fox News, this unexpected revelation highlights that Smith and his “Arctic Frost” team sought access to phone records from a telecommunications provider for these lawmakers, which has been described as “recently discovered.”
Patel confirmed that evidence indicating the seizure of US lawmakers’ phone records for political reasons has newly surfaced.
“That abuse of power is over now,” Patel remarked. “Under my leadership, the FBI will uphold truth and accountability and will not be weaponized against the American people again.”
FBI officials informed the news outlet that Smith and his team, established in the bureau in 2022, had the ability to track numbers politicians contacted, along with the origins of the calls.
Authorities clarified that the records were examined following a surveillance request initiated by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), which both Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino addressed personally.
Sources indicated that the call in question was likely tied to the 2020 election certification vote, as reported by Fox News.
Bongino expressed disappointment while informing the lawmakers involved, labeling the situation as “disgraceful.” He stated, “It’s dishonorable for me to have to stand on Capitol Hill and disclose that the FBI was once misused to track the private communications of US lawmakers for political objectives. That era is over.”
Several senators, who later spoke at a press conference with Grassley, made comments on their social media accounts. One called Smith’s actions “J. Edgar Hoover,” categorizing it as a direct assault on the Constitution, the separation of powers, and the First Amendment, labeling it as worse than Watergate.
Another senator decried the surveillance as an “attack on the legislative branch under the Biden administration,” demanding urgent investigation and prosecution.
Johnson and Haggerty pointed out that this isn’t the first instance lawmakers have been monitored by a Democratic administration; they alleged that the Obama administration also surveilled Trump and his allies.
“This isn’t the first time this has happened,” Haggerty exclaimed, while Johnson echoed, “This doesn’t surprise me.”
Blackburn described the suspicious surveillance as “hate.”
In a more surprised tone, Tuberville expressed disbelief during a discussion with Steve Bannon, saying he always thought foreign entities like North Korea or China would be the ones engaging in such actions, not his own government under Biden.
The U.S. Special Advisor Office (OSC) initiated an investigation in August that reportedly centers on Smith, accusing him of illegally targeting Trump.
A document recently circulated suggests that Americans will ultimately uncover the truth, as Tarsi Gabbard, a director at the DNI, disclosed information highlighting how actions taken by former President Barack Obama’s National Security Council paved the way for a prolonged coup against Trump.
