Former special counsel Jack Smith is under the microscope for allegedly snooping on congressional Republicans’ phone records.
According to the New York Post, the crux of this bombshell story is that Smith, once tasked with probing election interference tied to President Donald Trump, has been accused of professional misconduct by GOP lawmakers, leading to referrals for a Department of Justice investigation and potential disbarment in two states.
This saga kicked off with an FBI investigation dubbed “Arctic Frost,” launched in April 2022, focusing on events surrounding early January 2021.
By November 2022, materials from that probe were handed to Smith for his case against Trump, which eventually led to a four-count indictment in Washington, D.C.
Fast forward to 2023, and subpoenas were issued by the Biden DOJ to telecom giants, snagging detailed call logs—think time, recipient, duration, and even location data—of several Republican lawmakers from January 4 to January 7, 2021.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), leading the charge, didn’t mince words, stating, “As part of Jack Smith’s weaponized witch hunt, the Biden DOJ issued subpoenas to several telecommunications companies in 2023 regarding our cell phone records, gaining access to the time, recipient, duration, and location of calls placed on our devices from January 4, 2021, to January 7, 2021.”
Now, if that doesn’t sound like a digital fishing expedition, what does? The GOP argues this wasn’t just a breach of privacy but a direct assault on their legislative duties.
Smith’s team reportedly obtained “toll analysis” metadata, exposing contacts of nine Republicans, while the broader Arctic Frost probe targeted 92 GOP-connected individuals and groups, including the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Adding fuel to the fire, records from FBI Director Kash Patel reveal that Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) was shadowed by agents at his congressional office and district home, with his phone later seized.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently unveiled these unsettling details, calling the FBI’s actions an “unconstitutional breach” that demands accountability.
A fiery letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, signed by five affected lawmakers, including Blackburn, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), accused the Biden DOJ of spying on elected officials.
Other prominent Republicans like Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), along with Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), were also named in connection with this privacy debacle.
Blackburn didn’t stop at Smith—she’s already questioned Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile on why they rolled over without a fight against this alleged intrusion. Smith has been referred to the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility for a misconduct probe, and to disciplinary boards in Tennessee and New York, where he’s licensed, for potential disbarment.
Neither the DOJ nor Smith has commented on these explosive claims, leaving many to wonder if this is a case of overreach or just another political chess move. Still, when elected officials’ privacy is on the line, shouldn’t there be a higher bar for justification than what’s been shown?
