WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Thursday that the Justice Department secretly subpoenaed his phone records as part of a Biden-era investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, calling it a “witch hunt” targeting Republicans and President Donald Trump, according to the Washington Examiner.
Scott said he learned of the subpoena from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who is investigating what Republicans call the DOJ’s “weaponization.” The probe, known as Arctic Frost, supported special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of Trump for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
Newly disclosed records shared by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) show Verizon turned over toll data tied to Scott and other senators, while AT&T refused to comply. Both companies received gag orders signed by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, preventing them from notifying lawmakers.
The subpoenas sought subscriber details and call logs for several days around Jan. 6, not the contents of messages or calls. Grassley said at least 197 subpoenas targeted Trump allies, including Sens. Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Lindsey Graham, and Tommy Tuberville.
Scott, who voted against certifying Pennsylvania’s 2020 electoral votes, argued the probe represents political retaliation. “This was a targeted attack to dismantle the Republican Party and destroy me and President Trump,” he wrote on X.
Smith defended the subpoenas as “entirely proper” and asked Congress to allow him to testify publicly about his work.
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