FBI Shuts Down CR‑15 After Disclosure That Task Force Monitored GOP Senators
A Sept. 27, 2023 FBI “preliminary toll analysis” shows Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 probe obtained call‑metadata (dates, times, locations/lengths — not call content) for Jan. 4–7, 2021 covering nine Republican senators (Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn, and one other) and Rep. Mike Kelly, which officials say was authorized by a grand jury and was disclosed after a records request by Sen. Chuck Grassley. Following the disclosure, Director Kash Patel announced the CR‑15 public‑corruption squad was dismantled and employees tied to the matter fired or reassigned, prompting GOP demands for more transparency and further investigations while the FBI says only tolling data was collected and an internal probe is ongoing.
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📌 Key Facts
- A Sept. 27, 2023 document described as a 'preliminary toll analysis' (CAST Assistance) shows the FBI obtained basic call‑detail records (toll/metadata: dates, times, lengths and timestamps) for nine Republican lawmakers covering days around Jan. 6, 2021 (reported as Jan. 4–7, 2021); the document was produced after Sen. Chuck Grassley’s request.
- The nine lawmakers named are Sens. Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn and Rep. Mike Kelly.
- The records collection was part of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 investigation (code‑named 'Arctic Frost,' launched in 2022) and, according to reporting, was authorized by a grand jury.
- FBI Director Kash Patel announced the CR‑15 public‑corruption squad has been dismantled, and agents tied to the matter have been fired or reassigned; the FBI has opened an internal investigation and agency leaders pledged further accountability.
- An FBI official told Fox News that Smith’s team could see which numbers the senators called and the locations where calls originated and were received, but multiple outlets and DOJ defenders say no call content was collected.
- Legal experts and several news outlets noted that collecting call metadata is not the same as 'wiretapping' under federal law; defenders (including Rep. Daniel Goldman) argued the lawmakers 'weren't surveilled' because only toll records were obtained.
- Republican lawmakers reacted angrily: Sen. Josh Hawley called for a special counsel and denounced the practice as an 'abuse of power,' while Sen. Cynthia Lummis demanded all FBI/DOJ records relating to monitoring of her communications (Jan. 20, 2021–Jan. 20, 2025) and argued it may violate separation‑of‑powers and the Speech or Debate Clause.
- News outlets (including Fox News and Axios) tied the bureau's personnel actions and the CR‑15 dismantling directly to the disclosure of the Sept. 27, 2023 preliminary toll analysis and the ensuing public reporting.
📰 Sources (9)
Fact checking Hawley’s claims that the FBI ‘tapped’ his and other senators’ phones
New information:
- Clarifies the FBI sought 'tolling data' (call metadata) for Jan. 4–7, 2021 rather than wiretapping; no call content was collected.
- Names the nine lawmakers cited by Grassley and aligns Hawley’s claims with the document scope.
- Introduces the investigation code name 'Arctic Frost' and notes it launched in 2022.
- Legal experts quoted say metadata collection is not 'wiretapping' under federal law.
GOP senator demands FBI reveal if surveillance went beyond Jack Smith’s phone tracking
New information:
- Sen. Cynthia Lummis sent a formal letter to FBI Director Kash Patel demanding all FBI/DOJ records related to surveillance of her communications, including who authorized it, what was collected, legal justifications, and with whom data was shared.
- Lummis also requested documentation of any other FBI/DOJ surveillance of her from Jan. 20, 2021, through Jan. 20, 2025 tied to her official Senate duties.
- Her letter thanks Patel, President Trump, and AG Pam Bondi for 'transparency' about 'Operation Arctic Frost' and argues the monitoring violates separation of powers and the Speech or Debate Clause.
- An FBI official told Fox News Digital that Jack Smith’s team could view which numbers senators called and the locations where calls originated and were received.
Dem rep defends DOJ obtaining GOP senator call records in 2023: 'You weren't surveilled'
New information:
- Rep. Daniel Goldman publicly defended DOJ actions on X, writing 'You weren't surveilled' and stating DOJ obtained only basic toll records (date, time, length) after the fact.
- Article cites the existence of a CAST Assistance document dated Sept. 27, 2023 by name and links it to Jack Smith's 'Arctic Frost' Jan. 6 probe.
- Reports Sen. Ron Johnson said he was briefed on the matter by FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino (per Johnson’s post).
FBI shuts down corruption group, fires agents after they monitored GOP lawmakers
New information:
- FBI Director Kash Patel publicly said CR‑15 — a corruption task group — was 'dismantled' following revelations about monitoring of GOP lawmakers.
- Patel said several agents tied to the unit have been fired or reassigned (Axios notes the firings but says clarity remains if fired or reassigned).
- Axios links the action to a Fox News‑obtained document showing 'preliminary toll analysis' of communications from nine Republican senators.
FBI analyzed phone records of senators as part of Trump Jan. 6 probe, lawmakers say
New information:
- Names the specific lawmakers whose records were analyzed: Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Sen. Ron Johnson, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Rep. Mike Kelly.
- Provides the date on the FBI document: Sept. 27, 2023.
- Clarifies the data type and timeframe: basic call‑metadata (dates/times, not content) covering several days during the week of Jan. 6, 2021.
- Notes that senators disclosed the document in response to a request from Sen. Chuck Grassley and that investigators said the step was authorized by a grand jury.
FBI fires agents, dismantles corruption squad after probe unveils monitoring of GOP senators, Patel says
New information:
- FBI Director Kash Patel announced the bureau has terminated employees connected to the matter and abolished the CR‑15 public‑corruption squad.
- Patel said the FBI has initiated an ongoing internal investigation and posted statements on X promising further accountability measures.
- FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino publicly echoed the director's statements of transparency and accountability.
Hawley rips Jack Smith’s ‘Biden’s Stasi’ probe, calls alleged spying ‘abuse of power beyond Watergate’
New information:
- Sen. Josh Hawley’s extended, on‑the‑record condemnation using the phrase 'Biden’s Stasi' and calling for a 'full investigation' and prosecution of anyone who violated the law.
- Explicit statement in this piece clarifying the tracking involved call logs and timestamps (metadata) rather than the content of calls, repeated as part of Hawley’s reaction.
- Public call by Hawley for appointment of a special counsel devoted to investigating the matter and questions about who ordered/approved the surveillance.
FBI analyzed some Republican lawmakers' phone records as part of Trump Jan. 6 probe
New information:
- CBS names nine lawmakers listed in the Sept. 27, 2023 'preliminary toll analysis': Sens. Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn, and Rep. Mike Kelly.
- The FBI analysis examined call metadata (date/time) but not call content.
- The document is dated Sept. 27, 2023 and the senators say it was found in response to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s request.
- Senators disclosed the analysis and said it was authorized by a grand jury; the probe in question was the now‑shuttered special counsel/Jackson Smith investigation into Jan. 6‑related efforts to overturn 2020 results.