FBI analyzed some Republican lawmakers' phone records as part of Trump Jan. 6 probe, GOP senators say
CBS1 day
Senator: FBI Obtained Phone Records of 9 GOP Lawmakers in Jan 6 Probe
Above: Former special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 1, 2023. Image copyright: Saul Loeb/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
The Biden FBI conducted illegal political surveillance on Republican senators under Operation Arctic Frost — expanding far beyond election matters to spy on 92 GOP groups and individuals. This represents weaponization worse than Watergate, targeting the entire Republican political apparatus, including the RNC and conservative organizations, for partisan purposes.
Democratic narrative
Republicans are exaggerating this story. The FBI lawfully obtained phone records of nine GOP lawmakers through proper grand jury subpoenas as part of Jack Smith's official investigation into the horrific events of Jan. 6. Federal investigators, who followed established legal procedures to access toll records excluding their content, were doing exactly what they were supposed to do as they probed election-related misconduct.
Establishment-critical narrative
It would be nice if Senators made as much of a fuss about the NSA spying on regular Americans as they do when the FBI obtains warrants to obtain theirs. The NSA's mass surveillance — tracking phone records, hacking devices and tapping internet lines — invades everyone's privacy with Congress's blessing, yet politicians cry foul only when their own phones are checked.
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.16.0
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.16.0