U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has joined a group of Republican senators, including Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), in requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) release all records related to the FBI’s collection of phone data from Members of Congress. The request follows revelations that the FBI obtained personal cell phone information from eight Republican senators during its Arctic Frost investigation.
The lawmakers have also asked the DOJ to seek judicial authorization to access any records that are protected by federal grand jury secrecy requirements. In their letter, they stated, “Given that these materials relate to an unprecedented collection of records and information on sitting [Members of Congress] and raise serious constitutional concerns, Congress’ need for these records clearly outweighs any interest in secrecy. Further, the unprecedented nature of the DOJ’s and FBI’s actions in collecting [Members of Congress’] communication records falls squarely within Congress’ constitutional duty to thoroughly investigate potential abuses of power and creates a uniquely exceptional circumstance that demands the release of otherwise protected records.”
A recently released FBI document showed that the agency targeted the personal phones of several Republican senators as part of the Arctic Frost probe. This investigation later contributed to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case regarding the 2020 presidential election. Senator Britt described the actions by the Biden administration as “indefensible” and called for accountability for those involved in obtaining congressional members’ phone data without their knowledge.
Other signatories to the letter include Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.).
