FBI Director Kash Patel recently shared a photo of a peculiar trophy crafted by former FBI employees. This trophy commemorates Operation Arctic Frost, an investigation initiated after the 2020 election that focused on President Donald Trump and his associates.
The metallic trophy, which is 3D-printed, features an “AF” alongside a lightning bolt and dollar sign, with a raised map of the United States at its base. It also includes small models of buildings and infrastructure, and the letters “CR-15” are inscribed along the bottom. CR-15 was an FBI unit that has since been disbanded; it dealt with public corruption.
Patel expressed his disapproval on X, stating, “People ask why I said the old FBI was a sick temple. This is what corruption looks like when you think no one is looking.” He went on to emphasize that he has dismantled CR-15 and removed those corrupt officials involved. “So when the traditional media screams that President Trump’s FBI has fired people and made sweeping reforms, my answer is one: That’s right. What we did was absolutely right,” he said.
Patel’s remarks come as Republican lawmakers raise concerns about the Arctic Frost investigation, which later impacted the work of former special counsel Jack Smith. In October, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) revealed a list of 197 subpoenas allegedly issued by the FBI during the Biden administration. These subpoenas reportedly aimed to gather testimony and documents from hundreds of Republicans and party organizations.
Johnson has described this list as “nothing less than a list of enemies of the Biden administration,” claiming that Arctic Frost is being misused to probe unfairly into the Republican political landscape.
While Smith’s team initially used Operation Arctic Frost to lay down charges connected to the 2020 election—charges that were eventually dismissed following Trump’s 2024 victory—he faced scrutiny from the House Judiciary Committee recently. Additionally, Republicans have criticized Smith for placing a gag order on Trump during the campaign, speeding up court processes, and subpoenaing records and phone data from pro-Trump figures, including members of Congress. Notably, he also authorized a $20,000 payment to a confidential FBI source to obtain information regarding Trump.
