Republican senators are demanding answers after uncovering what they say is a massive Biden-era spying effort that secretly targeted conservatives, Republican lawmakers, and media outlets under a Justice Department operation known as “Arctic Frost.”

According to Senator Chuck Grassley, the investigation began in mid-2022 after whistleblowers came forward with evidence showing the Biden administration’s Department of Justice had been monitoring private communications. He said the probe involved Special Counsel Jack Smith and reached into the offices of sitting U.S. senators.

“Based on whistleblower disclosures, we know that weaponized taxpayer-funded agents and prosecutors advanced the investigation, as Arctic Frost advanced that 92 Republican organizations or individuals were targeted,” Chuck Grassley said. “Not just [President Donald] Trump.”

Grassley said that Smith obtained private phone data from at least eight senators and one congressman without their knowledge.

“We’ve learned that [Special Counsel] Jack Smith secretly obtained phone record data from at least eight senators and one congressman,” Grassley said. “I’ve recently been informed by Verizon that at least seven members with Verizon accounts were affected, which includes a hardline for the office [of Sen. Cruz] and a staffer’s phone for former Sen. [Kelly] Loeffler (R-GA). AT&T informed me that they challenge the legal basis for Jack Smith’s efforts, and Smith backed down.”

Grassley revealed that 197 subpoenas were issued under the Biden DOJ — covering 34 individuals and 163 businesses. Many targeted conservative groups, including Turning Point USA and the Republican Attorneys General Association. Even communications between journalists and GOP officials were caught up in the sweep.

“These subpoenas were issued to 34 individuals and 163 businesses, including financial institutions,” Grassley said. “It extended to more than 400 Republican organizations.”

Senator Ted Cruz shared that Smith’s subpoena against him was approved by a judge known for prior controversies — Justice James Boasburg. Cruz said the order went so far as to prohibit AT&T from informing him about the government’s request for his records.

“The court finds reasonable grounds that such disclosure will result in destruction of or tampering with evidence,” Cruz read from the order. “‘Intimidation of witnesses and serious jeopardy to the investigation.’”

Cruz called that reasoning outrageous.

“There is precisely zero evidence to conclude that I am likely to destroy or tamper with evidence,” he said. “Or to intimidate potential witnesses. Zero evidentiary basis for that. This order is an abuse of power. This order is a weaponized legal system.”

Cruz also urged the House of Representatives to impeach Boasburg for what he described as a “gross abuse of power.”

Senator Ron Johnson called the program an “enemies list” run out of the Biden administration.

“The fact that 38 Wisconsinites are on that enemies list,” Johnson said. “I know most of those individuals. They are God-fearing, country-loving, law-enforcement supporting people who want to see America succeed. The fact that they were targeted is outrageous.”

Senator Marsha Blackburn said the operation was not just illegal — it was part of a pattern of political fishing expeditions.

“We need to have hearings. We have encouraged the DOJ to refer Jack Smith to the Office of Conduct,” Blackburn said. “It is worse than Watergate. It is deep. It is wide, and we are just beginning to scratch the surface.”

The senators also revealed that the subpoenas targeted communications with media outlets such as Fox News, Newsmax, Sinclair, and CBS. They said it shows a deliberate attempt to map and monitor conservative networks ahead of the 2026 elections.

Grassley said his committee would continue gathering evidence and pushing for full transparency on how Biden’s Justice Department approved such actions. He said whistleblowers continue to come forward, revealing how far the Arctic Frost operation reached — and how many Americans may have been swept up in it without cause.

If proven true, the scandal would mark one of the largest internal surveillance efforts in U.S. history. Lawmakers say it’s a chilling reminder of what happens when political power is used as a weapon.

The Senate is preparing hearings to investigate the full scope of the operation, and House leaders have signaled they may move toward impeachment inquiries if the evidence continues to mount.