FBI Analyzed Phone Records of Republican Senators in Jan. 6 Probe, Senators Say
Senators disclosed a Sept. 27, 2023 "preliminary toll analysis" showing the FBI reviewed call‑metadata — dates and times, not call content — for nine Republican senators (Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn) and Rep. Mike Kelly covering several days during the week of Jan. 6, 2021, saying the step was authorized by a grand jury and produced in response to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s request. Lawmakers sharply condemned the review, with Sen. Hawley calling for further probes, and FBI leadership has announced personnel actions, the dismantling of a public‑corruption unit and an internal investigation.
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📌 Key Facts
- A Sept. 27, 2023 “preliminary toll analysis” produced by the FBI names nine Republican lawmakers and one representative whose phone records were analyzed: Sens. Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn, and Rep. Mike Kelly.
- The FBI's review examined basic call‑metadata (call logs, dates/times/timestamps) covering several days during the week of Jan. 6, 2021, and did not include the content of calls.
- Senators say the document was disclosed to them after a request from Sen. Chuck Grassley and that investigators told them the step was authorized by a grand jury.
- Lawmakers say the analysis was performed as part of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Jan. 6‑related efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
- Sen. Josh Hawley publicly condemned the tracking—calling it “Biden’s Stasi”—and demanded a full investigation, prosecution of any who violated the law, and appointment of a special counsel to determine who ordered or approved the surveillance.
- FBI leadership announced personnel and structural actions in response: Director Kash Patel said employees connected to the matter were terminated, the CR‑15 public‑corruption squad was abolished, and an internal investigation was opened with promises of further accountability; Deputy Director Dan Bongino publicly echoed calls for transparency and accountability.
📰 Sources (5)
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.