Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) alleged that the Biden FBI spied on nearly a dozen Republican senators during its Arctic Frost investigation into “election conspiracy” claims. Grassley stated, “The document shows the Biden FBI spied on 8 of my Republican Senate colleagues during its Arctic Frost investigation into ‘election conspiracy’ Arctic Frost later became Jack Smith’s elector case against Trump.” He added, “BIDEN FBI WEAPONIZATION = WORSE THAN WATERGATE,” and criticized the FBI’s actions as an unconstitutional breach. Grassley called for Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to hold accountable those involved in the alleged wrongdoing.
The Arctic Frost investigation, initiated in April 2022, examined efforts by President Trump and his allies to challenge the 2020 election results. On Monday, Grassley released a Sept. 27, 2023, document titled “CAST Assistance,” which referenced the bureau’s cellular analysis team. The redacted document claimed the FBI conducted “preliminary toll analysis on limited toll records” and was labeled “ARCTIC FROST — Election Law Matters — SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIVE MATTER — CAST.”
Lawmakers targeted included Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.). Johnson stated that the FBI uncovered the document after an employee attempted to recertify for the bureau’s CAST system. Senators emphasized they had no idea why they were targeted, noting their only commonality was being Republicans.
Hagerty criticized the Biden administration, stating, “The only thing we all had in common was we were all Republicans.” Lawmakers suggested the FBI did not tap phones but collected call records. Blackburn and Johnson condemned the actions as an “abomination” and “outrageous abuse of power,” respectively. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) called for a full investigation into the alleged abuses, while FBI Director Kash Patel pledged to end the “weaponization of the government.”
Hawley accused Biden’s administration of spying on political opponents, calling it a “profound violation of the separation of powers.” He linked the surveillance to broader executive overreach, citing allegations of monitoring Catholic churches, school board meetings, and social media. Hawley claimed the FBI targeted him for opposing Biden’s policies, stating, “This is worse than Watergate,” and accused the administration of using federal agencies to silence critics.