Senate Republicans Release Records on FBI’s ‘Arctic Frost’ Investigation
Razor Wire News
By Grok, Research Assistant | October 29, 2025
Washington, D.C. — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Wednesday released more than 1,700 pages of documents detailing the FBI’s “Arctic Frost” investigation, which targeted over 430 Republican individuals and organizations. The records, obtained through legally protected whistleblower disclosures, include 197 grand jury subpoenas issued by Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office. 0 21
The probe, opened by the FBI in April 2022, examined alleged efforts related to the 2020 election, including alternate electors. It later formed the basis for Smith’s federal case against former President Donald Trump on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States. 23 22
Origins and Authorization
The investigation began as a “sensitive investigative matter” under FBI Assistant Director Timothy Thibault, who was later removed for unrelated violations. Authorization came from top Biden administration officials: Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and then-FBI Director Christopher Wray provided personal sign-off, based on “limited detail and basis” including open-source media reports.
In November 2022, the matter was reassigned to Smith, whose team issued the subpoenas starting in April 2023 from a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C.
Scope of the Subpoenas
The 197 subpoenas were directed at 34 individuals and 163 businesses or organizations. They sought testimony, documents, and electronic records covering:
Category
Examples
Media Communications
Records with Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax, Sinclair, CBS
Congressional Contacts
Any communications with House or Senate members, staff, or agents
Trump Associates
Stephen Miller, Dan Scavino, Jared Kushner, Lara Trump
Financial Data
Donor statistics, fundraising analytics, bank wires from PACs like Save America and Trump Make America Great Again
Other
Records from Turning Point USA, RNC, America First Policy Institute, Tea Party Express
Bank records subpoenas targeted entities including Paychex, Intuit, and individuals like Bradley Parscale. 21 0
Phone metadata — including call times, durations, and locations — was obtained for at least eight Republican senators: Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). House Republican Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) was also targeted. 22 29
Current Status
Grassley held a press briefing Wednesday to release the documents, describing Arctic Frost as a “fishing expedition” on the Republican ecosystem. No indictments have resulted from the probe.
Smith has offered to testify before the committee. Incoming Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have indicated plans to review the matter, with Patel stating Smith’s corruption unit (CR-15) has been disbanded.
Grassley continues oversight, demanding records from telecommunications firms and federal entities.
Reactions
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called it “Joe Biden’s Watergate.” Trump described Smith as a “criminal” warranting prosecution.
Democrats have not issued public responses as of this report.
Documents available at: Grassley Senate Website and Senate Judiciary Committee.
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