Recent FBI documents made public by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) disclose that former special counsel Jack Smith issued close to 200 subpoenas aimed at Republican organizations, officials, and donors in connection with a Justice Department inquiry initiated during the Biden administration. In light of these findings, some congressional Republicans are urging for the impeachment of U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, who sanctioned the surveillance orders related to the investigation.
Grassley announced that the FBI files released on Wednesday are part of Smith’s “Arctic Frost” investigation. This investigation, as noted, previously raised alarms when it involved secretly acquiring telephone and financial records from Republican lawmakers and affiliated organizations. According to the FBI records, Smith’s team issued 197 subpoenas directed at 34 individuals and 163 entities, which included banks and political groups, seeking data on over 400 people and organizations linked to the Republican Party. Among those targeted were Turning Point USA and the Republican Bar Association.
The document is founded on a series of investigations by Breitbart News that illustrate how Smith’s appointment and actions were connected to a broader “legal” campaign against President Donald Trump and his associates. Previous reports in August and October provided details on how FBI Director Kash Patel managed this issue. Afterward, Patel was removed, and various representatives initiated an internal inquiry.
Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, requested Smith to testify before Congress regarding President Trump’s handling of the investigation and the use of subpoenas against elected representatives. Jordan highlighted what he deemed “politically motivated” behavior and reiterated earlier conclusions from the Office of the Special Counsel, which examined potential breaches of the Hatch Act. Mr. Smith made remarks in London earlier this month, defending claims of prosecutorial independence and partisanship just days before the disclosure of additional FBI records.
The FBI files also bring attention back to Judge Boasberg. His orders permitted Mr. Smith’s team to access the cell phone data of members but forbade companies like AT&T from informing them about this action. Boasberg, appointed by former President Barack Obama and currently serving as chief justice in Washington, D.C., has encountered criticism for decisions impacting Trump administration policies. Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlowe documented Boasberg’s involvement in the Russiagate surveillance controversy. The outlet also reported on Boasberg’s judicial memo that suspended deportation flights for undocumented immigrants, expressing his “concern” about a potential constitutional crisis stemming from Trump’s actions.
Republican senators mentioned in or impacted by the subpoenas accused Mr. Boasberg of overreach and called for a House investigation and possible impeachment. Some lawmakers likened the extent of Smith’s actions to Watergate, suggesting an abuse of investigative powers by the Biden Justice Department.
At this juncture, Mr. Smith was appointed as special prosecutor. A federal court previously ruled that this was unconstitutional, and lawsuits related to Trump concerning classified documents and the 2020 election were also deemed unconstitutional. Following Trump’s return, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and FBI Director Christopher Wray authorized Smith’s actions at that time, according to prior information from Grassley’s office.
