Former special counsel Jack Smith secretly obtained call records of at least 10 Republican lawmakers — including sitting senators — during his sweeping investigation into the 2020 election, newly released documents reveal.
The revelation came through a bombshell disclosure from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who released sealed FBI and DOJ materials from the now-terminated “Arctic Frost” investigation. Among them: a May 2023 grand jury subpoena issued to Verizon that compelled the company to turn over call logs, text metadata, and billing info for several prominent Republicans, including:
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN)
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)
All 10 lawmakers used Verizon as their service provider. Smith’s team also targeted a congressional phone line in the office of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), though the carrier confirmed no responsive records were turned over in that instance.
“I had no idea my phone records were handed over by Verizon — and no crime was ever alleged. This was pure political targeting,” Blackburn said in a statement. “Verizon willfully aided Jack Smith’s witch hunt.”
Verizon responded by noting that it was bound by a nondisclosure order signed by Chief Judge James Boasberg of the D.C. District Court and was legally compelled to comply. The order, which has since expired, blocked the company from informing affected lawmakers.
AT&T, by contrast, rejected a similar request from Smith’s office and refused to turn over records for two lawmakers — one of whom was Sen. Cruz.
“When AT&T pressed Smith’s team on the legal basis for spying on members of Congress, they dropped it. Verizon didn’t even ask,” Cruz said during a fiery Capitol Hill press conference. “This was a political enemies list from the beginning.”
Sen. Grassley said whistleblowers handed over 197 subpoenas issued under Arctic Frost, which together targeted over 430 individuals and groups aligned with the GOP — including Turning Point USA and the Republican Attorneys General Association.
“This was a fishing expedition to go after the entire Republican apparatus,” Grassley warned. “And they used the power of the federal government to do it.”
Senate Republicans are now calling for Judge Boasberg’s impeachment, accusing him of abusing his authority by issuing gag orders and green-lighting surveillance on sitting lawmakers.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) has introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg, with 22 GOP co-sponsors already signed on. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) demanded “Watergate-style hearings” and said heads must roll.
“Resignations, prosecutions, firings — consequences must follow,” Schmitt said.
Former DOJ prosecutor Molly Gaston, one of the signatories on the subpoenas, was fired after Trump took office in January. Smith himself resigned just days before the administration changed hands.
Verizon has now pledged to implement a new protocol requiring senior legal review of subpoenas targeting any member of Congress and will notify lawmakers when gag orders expire.
“This isn’t just about privacy,” Cruz said. “It’s about abuse of power — and a Justice Department that saw Republicans not as citizens, but as targets.”
The post Jack Smith Secretly Subpoenaed Call Logs of 10 GOP Lawmakers in 2020 Probe — Including Lindsey Graham and Josh Hawley appeared first on Real News Now.
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