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Garland, Wray, and Monaco personally approved FBI Arctic Frost probe, memo shows

The FBI investigation authorized by top DOJ officials targeted alleged fraudulent electors after the 2020 election and included subpoenas for phone data of nine GOP lawmakers, Senator Grassley said.

  • Senate documents released Thursday reveal a four-page memo dated April 4, 2022, signed by then-FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting DOJ authorization, which Attorney General Merrick Garland approved the next day with Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s recommendation.
  • The memo said investigators relied on media reports, podcasts and public statements rather than confidential sources, citing alleged `fraudulent certificates of electors` after the 2020 election.
  • The probe produced subpoenas for the phone data of at least nine Republican members of Congress and data tied to Donald Trump and campaign aides, while earlier this month Grassley announced at least eight Republican senators and 92 Republican groups or people were targeted.
  • The opening of Arctic Frost led to special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment and GOP requests for Department of Justice and FBI records; Smith faces an Oct. 28 deadline to respond.
  • Sen. Chuck Grassley called the subpoenas `worse than Watergate` and said the investigation unleashed unchecked government power, pledging ongoing oversight.
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Newsmax broke the news in Washington, United States on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
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