The FBI, under the Biden administration, reportedly collected toll-record metadata from the phones of eight Republican U.S. senators as part of its Arctic Frost investigation into alleged election conspiracy activity, according to documents released by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley.
The documents, labeled “CAST Assistance,” indicate that in 2023, the FBI requested and obtained data covering January 4–7, 2021, showing which numbers the senators called, call durations, and general location info—not the content of the calls.
Grassley released the documents as part of oversight efforts, arguing that the surveillance constitutes an unconstitutional targeting of lawmakers for political purposes. He tied the operation to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s later “elector case” against former President Trump, saying Arctic Frost laid groundwork for Smith’s investigation.
The senators identified in the disclosure include Lindsey Graham (SC), Bill Hagerty (TN), Josh Hawley (MO), Dan Sullivan (AK), Tommy Tuberville (AL), Ron Johnson (WI), Cynthia Lummis (WY), and Marsha Blackburn (TN), along with Rep. Mike Kelly (PA) in the House.
While Grassley and other Republicans have denounced the action as political weaponization, the FBI says the metadata request was authorized by a grand jury and confined to investigative needs, not indiscriminate spying.
Supporters of the disclosures call for further congressional hearings and accountability, while critics argue that metadata analysis of public officials during a federal investigation is within legal boundaries when properly authorized. The full context, justification, and internal FBI decision-making remain under review.
