FBI Director Patel Shuts Corruption Unit After Smith Spying on Eight GOP Senators

FBI Director Kash Patel has taken decisive action following revelations that the FBI, under the Biden administration and special counsel Jack Smith, monitored phone records of several Republican senators as part of an operation called "Arctic Frost" related to investigations around the January 6 Capitol events. The monitoring involved analyzing toll records to identify communication patterns without wiretapping, affecting senators including Lindsey Graham, Josh Hawley, Ron Johnson, and others. Patel condemned the prior leadership for weaponizing the FBI against political opponents and announced the disbanding of the CR-15 public corruption squad responsible for the surveillance, firing involved employees, and initiating ongoing investigations to restore integrity and accountability. Republican lawmakers have expressed outrage, highlighting constitutional violations and political targeting, with Sen. Hawley noting the tracking extended beyond senators to conservative groups and individuals. Patel emphasized a commitment to transparency and reform, promising to end abuses of power and rebuild trust in the FBI. These developments underscore significant concerns about the politicization of federal law enforcement and the steps being taken to address these issues.