Former special counsel Jack Smith has been caught digging through the phone records of at least 10 Republican lawmakers in a probe that smells more like a political hit job than a search for justice.
This eyebrow-raising saga, part of the FBI’s Arctic Frost investigation, saw Smith’s team obtain call logs and seek records tied to prominent GOP figures, while sparking outrage and calls for judicial accountability among conservatives in Congress.
The New York Post reported that back in May 2023, Smith’s office issued a grand jury subpoena that snagged call logs, text records, and payment details for senators like Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, among others.
All of these lawmakers happened to use Verizon as their carrier. It’s a list that reads like a who’s who of Republican stalwarts, raising questions about targeted overreach.
Also targeted was a congressional office tied to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, though no responsive records turned up there.
A separate attempt to grab records from AT&T for Cruz and another undisclosed lawmaker fizzled out when the carrier pushed back on the legal justification. It’s a small win for privacy, but a rare one in this story.
The Verizon subpoena, cloaked by a nondisclosure order from Chief D.C. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, kept lawmakers in the dark about their own data being handed over.
Boasberg justified the secrecy, citing risks of evidence tampering or witness intimidation, but to many, it feels like a convenient shield for questionable tactics.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn didn’t mince words on the matter, telling The Post, “Verizon willfully handed over my call logs to the Biden FBI without hesitation, empowering Jack Smith’s witch hunt targeting Republicans for political gain.” Now, isn’t that a cozy arrangement? When a carrier rolls over without a fight, it’s hard not to wonder who’s really protecting our rights.
Verizon, for its part, claimed it had no choice but to comply with the court order, as a spokesman stated, “We had no choice but to comply with the court order. So we did.” Fine, but couldn’t there have been a bit more spine when it came to safeguarding congressional privacy?
Interestingly, Verizon has since tightened its belt, updating policies in 2024 to escalate such law enforcement requests to senior leaders and legal teams before coughing up data.
They’ve also promised to notify senators once nondisclosure orders expire. Better late than never, one supposes, but the damage is already done.
The nondisclosure orders for both Verizon and AT&T subpoenas lapsed on May 25, 2024, yet the public only learned of this intrusion after Republican senators demanded answers from the carriers.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who released the records, called Smith’s efforts a “fishing expedition” aimed at the Republican political machine. It’s hard to argue with that when over 430 GOP-aligned individuals and groups were swept up in the dragnet.
Federal whistleblowers handed Grassley’s office a staggering 197 subpoenas from Smith’s probe, targeting everyone from Turning Point USA to the Republican Attorneys General Association. If this isn’t a political enemies list, then what is? The scope alone suggests an agenda far beyond mere investigation.
Republican outrage has been swift and fierce, with calls for Judge Boasberg’s impeachment echoing through the halls of Congress from senators like Blackburn, Cruz, and Eric Schmitt of Missouri.
Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas even introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg with 22 GOP co-sponsors, though tied to a separate issue. The sentiment is clear: enough is enough.
Sen. Eric Schmitt has gone as far as demanding “Watergate-style hearings for months” to get to the bottom of this mess, adding that “consequences have to follow: resignations, firings, criminal prosecutions.” Strong words, but when trust in our institutions is this battered, can anyone blame him for wanting a full reckoning?
Meanwhile, a representative for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio told The Post that “everything is on the table” regarding potential impeachment proceedings against Boasberg. It’s a signal that conservatives aren’t just grumbling—they’re gearing up for a fight to restore checks and balances.
Jack Smith himself resigned before significant leadership changes, and key team members like Molly Gaston were later dismissed, though the fallout from Arctic Frost lingers.
This probe, with its sweeping subpoenas and secretive orders, leaves a bitter taste for anyone who values privacy over political gamesmanship.
