In a stunning revelation Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that nearly ten Republican senators and one House member had their private communications allegedly tracked by former Special Counsel Jack Smith under the Biden administration.
Documents obtained by Fox News show that Smith — appointed to investigate former President Donald Trump and the events of January 6, 2021 — used his “Arctic Frost” team at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to subpoena telephone records of sitting lawmakers in 2023.
The list of those reportedly surveilled includes some of Trump’s most vocal defenders: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA).
Patel, appointed as FBI Director under President Trump earlier this year, confirmed the authenticity of the files in a post on X: “We recently uncovered proof that phone records of U.S. lawmakers were seized for political purposes. That abuse of power ends now.”
Patel vowed to deliver truth and accountability at the FBI and said the agency would “never again be weaponized against the American people.”
An FBI official told Fox News that Smith and his team were able to see who the lawmakers contacted, as well as the locations of calls placed and received. The surveillance was reportedly linked to the certification of the 2020 election results.
Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who personally helped direct the oversight review in response to a request from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), briefed the affected lawmakers on Monday.
“It is a disgrace that I have to stand on Capitol Hill and reveal this — that the FBI was once weaponized to track the private communications of U.S. lawmakers for political purposes. That era is over.” — Dan Bongino
Outraged GOP lawmakers immediately spoke out. Sen. Josh Hawley called the operation “an abuse of power beyond Watergate, beyond J. Edgar Hoover, one that directly strikes at the Constitution, the separation of powers, and the First Amendment.”
Sen. Cynthia Lummis described the alleged surveillance as an “attack on the legislative branch under the Biden administration” and demanded “immediate investigation and prosecution.”
Sens. Ron Johnson and Bill Hagerty pointed to earlier instances of surveillance of Trump and his allies under Democratic administrations. “This isn’t the first time it’s happened,” Hagerty bristled, while Johnson added, “This doesn’t surprise me.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn called the spying “an abomination” and vowed, “I will not let it stand.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, speaking on Steve Bannon’s War Room, said, “It’s going to be a big deal… I would’ve always thought it would’ve been North Korea, or China, or Russia — not our own government. And Joe Biden was tapping the phones through the FBI of senators in this country. That’s a damn shame.”
Smith, who may have unlawfully targeted Trump himself, is already under investigation by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
Separately, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently released documents alleging that senior Obama-era National Security Council officials “laid the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup” against Trump — raising further questions about political weaponization inside the intelligence community.
READ NEXT: Office Of Special Counsel Launches Investigation Into Jack Smith
Nothing surprises me, that from the most corrupt administration in America’s history !
Biden and his allies are criminals and has to be arrested and put away
QUOTE: Patel vowed to deliver truth and accountability at the FBI and said the agency would “never again be weaponized against the American people.” END QUOTE
Say WHAT??!! The current leadership has weaponized the agency for its own ‘ends’, so Patel is full of horse hockey. The weaponization of our government is in full swing.
Just wish our government would get back to its intended purpose…looking after “We The People” and quit politicalizing everything.
Our current government..all of it…Both houses, the judiciary, leadership, etc. are a disgrace.