Former special counsel Jack Smith is reportedly under scrutiny for allegedly accessing the personal cell phone records of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This action is linked to Smith’s investigation of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Additionally, records from former Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert were also examined.
Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital reveal significant disclosures from FBI Director Kash Patel shared with Senate Judiciary Committee leaders Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson, who are investigating Smith’s “Arctic Frost” initiative.
On January 24, 2023, it became known that Smith sought records related to McCarthy’s AT&T phone and Gohmert’s Verizon phone. This detail surfaced in a “Critical Incident Notice” from the FBI’s Division of Criminal Investigation, dated May 25, 2023.
In response to these actions, McCarthy claimed that Smith’s approach was not about seeking the truth but rather a misuse of the Justice Department to target political opponents of the Biden administration. He emphasized that the attempt to access phone records of sitting lawmakers, including himself, was alarming and warranted accountability. McCarthy also mentioned he intends to seek legal remedies to prevent similar actions against others in the future.
This news follows an earlier report by Fox News Digital that indicated Smith’s team tracked the private communications of nearly a dozen Republican senators during the investigation. Notably, it involved figures like Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and several others.
According to officials, the records were collected in 2023 after subpoenas were issued to major phone providers. Smith defended his actions, stating that requesting these records was consistent with Justice Department policy, arguing that the data collection was limited to a brief period right after the Capitol events.
Grassley and Johnson continue to press major telecom companies for answers on this matter. AT&T confirmed that Smith sought records for two congressional members but only identified one as Sen. Ted Cruz. Reports suggest that McCarthy was likely the second individual mentioned.
The investigation, referred to informally as “Arctic Frost,” began on April 13, 2022, with Smith taking charge of it in November 2022. An FBI official described the operation as intense and underscored the agency’s commitment to transparency.
After a lengthy inquiry, Smith had previously filed a lawsuit regarding the 2020 election against former President Donald Trump, which was later dismissed. This lawsuit reportedly cost taxpayers over $50 million. Smith has not yet commented on the latest developments.
