Garland, Wray Approved FBI 'Arctic Frost' Probe

Documents released by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley show that then-FBI Director Christopher Wray, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Attorney General Merrick Garland signed off in April 2022 to open “Arctic Frost,” a sensitive FBI investigation into alleged efforts to obstruct Congress tied to fraudulent slates of electors after the 2020 election. The four-page memo relied heavily on open-source reporting, media and public statements rather than confidential sources. The approval authorized the Washington Field Office to undertake broad investigative steps — including toll-record analysis and subpoenas — that reached nearly 100 Republican-linked groups and at least nine Republican senators. Material from Arctic Frost later fed into special counsel Jack Smith’s electors indictment against former President Donald Trump. Grassley has called the probe an example of “unchecked government power,” conservative outlets amplified those criticisms, and President Trump has publicly accused officials involved of spying and other illegal conduct, claims described in reporting as unproven.