When Politics and Power Collide:The Jack Smith Surveillance Allegation

1. 84

   Sharlee01posted 32 hours ago

   
   
   Recent revelations have stirred strong reactions across the political landscape. Reports indicate that the individuals allegedly placed under surveillance were all Republicans, and that the activity occurred while Joe Biden occupied the White House (2021–2025). During the period in question, Christopher Wray served as FBI Director, overseeing the Bureau as Special Counsel Jack Smith conducted various investigations related to the events of January 6.
   
   Documents obtained by multiple news outlets suggest that Smith’s investigative team carried out what was described as “preliminary toll analysis” on the phone metadata of eight GOP senators and one Republican House member. This process involved reviewing call logs, durations, and contact points, information that reveals patterns of communication rather than the content of the calls themselves. Although officials have maintained that the review was limited to metadata, such information can still map relationships, alliances, and strategic activity, particularly within the political sphere.
   
   Because all those reportedly monitored were from one political party, the scope and timing of the surveillance have prompted widespread concern. Observers note that while the investigation may have been initiated under legal authority, the narrow focus raises questions about motive and proportionality. The fact that it occurred during a Democratic administration, under an FBI director appointed in a prior administration, adds layers of complexity and fuels debate about the nature and purpose of the operation.
   
   While it remains unclear whether the surveillance followed proper legal channels, the implications could be significant. If the activity lacked valid court orders or statutory authorization under laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2703, it could fall afoul of constitutional safeguards under the Fourth Amendment. Moreover, given that members of Congress were reportedly involved, questions arise regarding potential violations of legislative immunity, the Speech or Debate Clause, and separation-of-powers principles designed to prevent one branch of government from encroaching on another.
   
   In sum, the fact that all those surveilled were Republicans, and that this occurred during the Biden presidency and Christopher Wray’s tenure at the FBI, makes the situation politically sensitive and institutionally explosive. As new information emerges, whether in the form of court orders, internal memos, or whistleblower accounts, the central question may not only be whether the actions were lawful, but whether they reflected fair investigative judgment or something more strategic. For now, the details leave ample room for the public to draw its own conclusions about where law enforcement ends and political calculation may begin.
   
   These are Congress members' names being reported by the media to have been under surveillance.
   
   Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
   Bill Hagerty (R-TN)
   Josh Hawley (R-MO)
   Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
   Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
   Ron Johnson (R-WI)
   Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
   Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

   replyreport
   1. 81

      Readmikenowposted 17 hours agoin reply to this

      Shar,
      
      This is just more proof of democrat lawfare.  It makes a bold statement about the biden administration and the corruption of the FBI.
      
      This man needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. 
      
      MORE proof the democrats only believe in following the law when it benefits them.  When laws don't coincide with what they want, they are ignored.
      
      The democrats openly embrace corruption and use it as a tool to achieve their agenda goals.

      replyreport
      1. 84

         Sharlee01posted 12 hours agoin reply to this

         I agree, Mike, this looks like more evidence of partisan lawfare and a disturbing example of federal power being used against political opponents; if true, those responsible must be held to account through full, transparent legal and congressional processes, not just rhetoric. The documents revealed an internal FBI “preliminary toll analysis” showing investigators reviewed call metadata (dates, times, durations, locations and numbers called) for eight GOP senators and one House member as part of the Arctic Frost/Jan 6 probe, which is exactly the sort of targeting that demands independent oversight.
         
         At the same time, it’s important to be precise: toll metadata doesn’t include call content, but metadata can still map networks and expose political strategy,  so this isn’t a technicality; it’s why strict rules and narrow warrants matter.
         
         What we should push for now,  beyond calls for punishment is , concrete, institutional remedies: (1) an independent Inspector General and bipartisan congressional investigations with access to the original records and affidavits, (2) public release (where legally possible) of the underlying authorization and scope so Americans can see whether the probes were properly limited, and (3) reforms to tighten how metadata is obtained and audited so future investigations can’t be weaponized for partisan ends. Those steps preserve rule-of-law accountability while protecting civil liberties, and they’re the only way to restore trust in institutions that appear compromised.
         
         Update ---  The FBI has already terminated employees and abolished the CR-15 squad just one day after it was revealed that several Republicans’ private communications and phone calls had been tracked.
         
         FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday announced the actions the bureau had taken in response to the revelation of the "baseless monitoring" during the Biden administration and promised more actions to come.

         replyreport
         1. 59

            Willowarborposted 12 hours agoin reply to this

            Ignoring the fact that a judge signed off on what amounts to call logs...NOT "MONITORING" OR TAPS OR CONTENT OF CALLS....
            
            twisted facts....

            replyreport
2. 59

   Willowarborposted 14 hours ago

   Conversations were not listened to. Call LOGS to see what was going on around the attempted overthrow of the election are different than tapping a conversation.
   
   those phone logs were signed off by a Judge.
   Jack Smith showed evidence to a Judge who obviously thought it was compelling enough to compel the release of the logs....
   
   This is again a big fat nothing Burger

   replyreport
3. 84

   Sharlee01posted 13 hours ago

   Update ---  The FBI has already terminated employees and abolished the CR-15 squad just one day after it was revealed that several Republicans’ private communications and phone calls had been tracked.
   
   FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday announced the actions the bureau had taken in response to the revelation of the "baseless monitoring" during the Biden administration and promised more actions to come.
   
   "We are cleaning up a diseased temple three decades in the making — identifying the rot, removing those who weaponized law enforcement for political purposes and those who do not meet the standards of this mission while restoring integrity to the FBI. I promised reform, and I intend to deliver it," Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
   
   Patel also posted about it on X, saying, "Transparency is important, and accountability is critical. We promised both, and this is what promises kept looks like… We terminated employees, we abolished the weaponized CR-15 squad, and we initiated an ongoing investigation with more accountability measures ahead."
   
   FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino replied to the post and echoed Patel’s message, writing, "We promised you transparency and accountability. We will continue to deliver on those promises. You deserve better."
   
   The CR-15 squad was the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s public corruption unit. The squad helped former special counsel Jack Smith investigate President Donald Trump, according to NBC News, which cited sources familiar with the matter.
   
   On Monday, Fox News Digital learned that Smith allegedly tracked the private communications and phone calls of nearly a dozen Republican senators as part of his investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
   
   Trump reacted to the revelation on Tuesday and slammed Smith in a post on Truth Social that read, "Deranged Jack Smith got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. A real sleazebag!!!"  Trump
   
   A document, reviewed by Fox News Digital on Monday, revealed that Smith and his "Arctic Frost" team investigating Jan. 6 were allegedly tracking the phone calls of GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and GOP Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania.
   
   The document, recently discovered by Patel and exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, is titled "CAST Assistance" and dated Sept. 27, 2023. "CAST" refers to the FBI’s cellular analysis survey team. The case ID is marked in the document as "ARCTIC FROST—Election Law Matters—SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIVE MATTER—CAST."
   
   Additionally, it states the names of the lawmakers and that an FBI special agent on Smith’s team "conducted preliminary toll analysis" on the toll records associated with the lawmakers.
   
   An FBI official told Fox News Digital that Smith and his team tracking the senators were able to see which phone numbers they called, the location the phone call originated and the location where it was received.
   
   A source said the calls were likely in reference to the vote to certify the 2020 election.
   
   See document   https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-fi … patel-says

   replyreport
4. 59

   Willowarborposted 12 hours ago

   FBI, as part of the investigation led by former special counsel Jack Smith, obtained court-authorized "preliminary toll analysis" on the phone records of several Republican lawmakers in 2023. This was part of a probe into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
   
   GROK

   replyreport
   1. 81

      Readmikenowposted 12 hours agoin reply to this

      Interesting how you don't provide links.
      
      Are you making up these things you state?
      
      Most of those on the left do tend to make up things rather than cite sources.

      replyreport
      1. 59

         Willowarborposted 12 hours agoin reply to this

         You can look it up

         replyreport
      2. 84

         Sharlee01posted 11 hours agoin reply to this

         Mike,   It seems many are focusing on the sensational details of “preliminary toll analyses” or leaks from unnamed sources, but missing the bigger picture: this raises fundamental questions about legal boundaries, oversight, and accountability in federal investigations. Whether or not every action was technically authorized, the broader concern is the precedent it sets for surveilling lawmakers or political opponents. The forest here is about maintaining trust in institutions and ensuring the rule of law applies equally, not just arguing over specific phone numbers or documents. To me, this looks like a well-organized ploy that used our law enforcement agency to help pull it off, and it certainly appears to be just another way to try to take Trump down, along with many members of Congress who supported him.  This is really unexpected. I mean, what kind of Country are we living in where spying on Congress and a duly elected president is allowed...

         replyreport
         1. 81

            Readmikenowposted 11 hours agoin reply to this

            Shar,
            
            You're right.  This made my jaw drop..."only the recipients, the length of calls and the date on which they were placed."
            
            Do these people have any idea the amount of information you could get from them if anyone was able to get a list of their call recipients, length of calls and the date they occurred?  Just think about how much you would know about what is happening in a person's life.
            
            This is absolute clear undeniable proof of biden administration lawfare.
            
            Then we find out all the charges against President Donald Trump were made up.  It's some for some accountability.
            
            I hope Jack Smith is punished to the fullest extent of the law.  He deserves that and worse.

            replyreport
            1. 59

               Willowarborposted 10 hours agoin reply to this

               Why would he be punished for something that went through a grand jury LOL?????

               replyreport
            2. 59

               Willowarborposted 10 hours agoin reply to this

               YES OR NO
               Were the toll records of members phone done through a grand jury subpoena, which required court authorization and therefore corresponding evidence??

               replyreport
            3. 84

               Sharlee01posted 7 hours agoin reply to this

               Mike,  I agree completely — that part about “only the recipients, the length of calls, and the dates” is jaw-dropping. Anyone who understands how digital data works knows that’s practically a map of a person’s private life, who they’re connected to, when they’re most active, and even possible coordination patterns. It’s surveillance gold, not harmless metadata. What’s even more disturbing is how casually this has been brushed aside, as if it’s no big deal. This level of intrusion, paired with politically motivated prosecutions, paints a chilling picture of how far the Biden administration went in weaponizing institutions. Real accountability can’t come soon enough. The leadership on the left has shown a pattern of corruption and overreach that’s gone far beyond what the American people should ever tolerate.
               
               I can only hope we see some swift action regarding this issue. I did read that the FBI. Agents who were involved in the past investigation that obtained the phone records of Republican members of Congress have been fired. And also that the "corrupt CR-15 squad" involved in the investigation was dismantled, and an internal investigation was launched.

               replyreport
               1. 59

                  Willowarborposted 7 hours agoin reply to this

                  Lol, since when is the length of a phone call or the date of a phone call a view into someone's private life LOL??
                  
                  How about someone state the reason  Smith sought the information?
                  
                  You know, because facts matter...
                  
                  "Jack Smith's office, through a grand jury, obtained the phone records of several Republican lawmakers as part of its investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The specific reason was to identify communications between former President Trump and his inner circle with members of Congress during the critical days surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
                  
                  COURTESY OF GROK
                  
                  In my own words?   Smith  wanted to establish who Trump was talking to while maga was violently  rioting through the capitol, beating police officers.... And Trump was sitting on his ass doing nothing.

                  replyreport
5. 59

   Willowarborposted 12 hours ago

   FBI analyzed phone records of senators as part of Trump Jan. 6 probe, lawmakers say | PBS News https://share.google/FSZk5AEfqTYAwhgHD

   replyreport
6. 59

   Willowarborposted 12 hours ago

   I'm thinking that if people actually gave a shit about the truth, they would fully investigate, fully research both sides of the arguments they're presenting....

   replyreport
7. 59

   Willowarborposted 12 hours ago

   The phone records sought by Smith’s team were for calls that took place between Jan. 4 and Jan. 7, 2021 — on either side of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by rioters seeking to disrupt Congress’ certification of the 2020 election results.
   
   The FBI probe did not obtain the content of the calls, only the recipients, the length of calls and the date on which they were placed. The request for this information was approved by a grand jury
   
   
   Biden-era FBI requested Senate Republican phone records, lawmakers say - Live Updates - POLITICO https://share.google/QtVFcjXDIc7DIVmfR

   replyreport
8. 59

   Willowarborposted 10 hours ago

   "This is absolute clear undeniable proof of biden administration lawfare."
   
   No, it's actually not... But fingers crossed that the clown car rolls again.. please bring on the "investigation".  Americans need the comic relief
   
   This is a fake scandal and nothing more than verification of who Trump was on the phone with when Maga was attacking Capitol police and vandalizing  the place...

   replyreport
9. 59

   Willowarborposted 10 hours ago

   YES OR NO
   
   Were the toll records of members phone done through a grand jury subpoena, which required court authorization and therefore corresponding evidence??

   replyreport
10. 59

    Willowarborposted 10 hours ago

    Would love to have the rest of Jack Smith's findings released.... I suppose we'd know a lot more then wouldn't we?....2026 can't come soon enough

    replyreport
11. 84

    Sharlee01posted 9 hours ago

    Update another piece of the puzzle.  Facts matter.
    
    Yes, the information you've provided is accurate. The FBI's analysis of phone records from several Republican lawmakers was conducted under the authority of a grand jury subpoena as part of Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. However, there is no public evidence to suggest that the grand jurors themselves were informed that these records pertained to sitting members of Congress.
    
    Key Points:
    
    Authorization and Scope: The "preliminary toll analysis" involved reviewing call metadata—such as dates, times, and durations—of phone calls made by GOP senators and one House member during the week of January 6, 2021. This analysis was authorized by a grand jury subpoena, as confirmed by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley.
    AP News
    
    Grand Jury's Role: Grand juries typically review evidence directly relevant to the charges or witnesses being considered. They do not oversee or approve every data-collection step investigators take; that responsibility lies with prosecutors and the judge who signs off on subpoenas.
    AP News
    
    Secrecy of Grand Jury Proceedings: Due to the confidential nature of grand jury proceedings, it's standard practice that grand jurors are not informed about the identities of individuals whose records are subpoenaed unless those individuals are directly related to the charges being considered. Therefore, it's unlikely that the grand jurors were aware that the phone records belonged to sitting members of Congress.
    
    Lack of Evidence: As of now, there are no reports or whistleblower disclosures indicating that grand jurors were made aware that members of Congress were among the targets of the metadata review.
    AP News
    
    Conclusion:
    
    The analysis of phone records was conducted under grand jury authority, but there is no indication that the grand jurors themselves were informed that the records belonged to sitting members of Congress. Such decisions likely remained within the team of prosecutors and FBI agents working under Jack Smith's direction.
    
    sources
    https://apnews.com/article/fbi-january- … 799baf3fa4

    replyreport
    1. 81

       Readmikenowposted 8 hours agoin reply to this

       As an attorney friend once told me, "The more you dig the more it stinks."

       replyreport