FBI Shuts Down CR‑15 After Disclosure That Task Force Monitored GOP Senators
The FBI has dismantled its CR‑15 public‑corruption squad and terminated or reassigned agents after disclosure that the unit analyzed call‑metadata for nine Republican senators and Rep. Mike Kelly as part of the Jan. 6 special‑counsel probe — a “preliminary toll analysis” dated Sept. 27, 2023 that examined dates/times/lengths (not call content) and was said to have been authorized by a grand jury and produced in response to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s request. Director Kash Patel announced the personnel actions and an internal investigation, prompting GOP demands for a special counsel and criminal referrals while defenders of the DOJ note the records were basic toll data rather than wiretapped conversations.
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📌 Key Facts
- The FBI has dismantled its CR‑15 corruption task group after disclosures that the unit monitored Republican lawmakers; Director Kash Patel announced employees tied to the matter were fired or reassigned and said an internal investigation is ongoing.
- The monitoring traceable to the unit appears in a CAST Assistance / “preliminary toll analysis” document dated Sept. 27, 2023, which reporters and outlets linked to Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 ‘Arctic Frost’ probe.
- The analysis consisted of basic toll records/call metadata (dates, times and lengths) covering several days during the week of Jan. 6, 2021 — investigators and DOJ sources say it did not capture call content.
- The document names nine lawmakers whose records were analyzed: Sens. Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn, and Rep. Mike Kelly.
- Senators say the document was disclosed in response to a request from Sen. Chuck Grassley and that investigators told them the step was authorized by a grand jury.
- Political reactions have been mixed: Sen. Josh Hawley denounced the actions—calling for a special counsel and using the phrase “Biden’s Stasi”—while Rep. Daniel Goldman defended the DOJ on X, saying people were not surveilled and only basic toll records were obtained.
- FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino publicly echoed the director’s statements about transparency and accountability, and Sen. Ron Johnson said he was briefed by Bongino about the matter.
📰 Sources (7)
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.