FBI Monitoring of Rep. Scott Perry Prior to Phone Seizure
In Washington, it has come to light that the FBI was keeping tabs on Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) at both his Congressional office and home about a month before they seized his cell phone. This action was part of a larger investigation into potential interference with the 2020 election.
Documents reveal that this operation, referred to as “Arctic Frost,” aimed at nearly 100 Republican figures following President Trump’s loss in the election. Perry in particular was under surveillance by FBI agents during July and August of 2022.
One of the FBI documents noted that the purpose of the surveillance was to establish a “pattern of life,” identify Perry’s vehicle, and possibly determine a time for executing a search warrant.
Agents logged seeing Perry on July 25th at two locations “just south of Harrisburg,” Pennsylvania, and in Washington, D.C. Additional notes from August 4th showed surveillance at a recreational center in the capital.
The records came to light through House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), in conjunction with ongoing investigations labeled “Sensitive Election Law Surveys” stemming from the Arctic Frost probe.
Jordan’s spokesperson, Russell Dye, raised concerns about the ethics of the FBI monitoring Perry while he was conducting official duties at the U.S. Capitol, labeling it as “a dazzling power concern.”
During this time, Perry was the chairman of the Conservative Freedom Caucus and had declined to meet with the January 6 House Selection Committee, which looks into the Capitol riots of 2021.
Dye also questioned whether the monitoring had been approved by Speaker Pelosi or the Democratic Party’s January 6th committee, prompting concerns about the constitutional responsibilities of other members being compromised.
The Congressional Affairs Bureau has informed the FBI of its desire to interview Perry regarding the documents.
Five days after the last noted surveillance, on August 9th, the FBI executed a search warrant while Perry was on leave in New Jersey during a congressional break.
They planned to conduct a clandestine interview with him that same day, just a day after the agents executed a search at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
In response to the situation, Perry expressed frustration, stating that if the FBI had intended to seize his phone, they could have contacted his lawyer instead.
He emphasized that the phone contained private information regarding legislative and political matters, as well as personal conversations with family and friends—none of which pertained to government business.
At the time, Perry was not only the chairman of the Conservative Freedom Caucus but also resistant to cooperating with the January 6 House Selection Committee investigating the Capitol riots.
The Arctic Frost probe specifically scrutinized efforts in Pennsylvania to set up a slate of electors meant to misdirect votes from Joe Biden to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
FBI findings suggested that this plan stemmed from the Trump campaign, with Perry allegedly introducing then-assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark to Trump to elevate DOJ officials to positions that could influence the matter after the exit of AG Bill Barr.
Additionally, the FBI had communicated with members of the Pennsylvania Legislature regarding Perry’s draft, which urged then-senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to challenge the accreditation of the election.
Neither Perry’s office nor FBI representatives have responded to requests for comments on the situation.
