Newly released congressional documents point to a sweeping federal effort known as Arctic Frost, a probe run under the Department of Justice during the Biden administration. The records uncover that investigators gathered information not only on President Trump, but also on a wide network of conservatives, political organizations, media outlets, and even sitting members of Congress.
Republicans leading the investigation say the scale of the operation is unprecedented. One lawmaker described it as “bigger than Watergate.” The comparison is not hyperbole. Watergate involved a break-in. Arctic Frost involves the complete and total weaponization of the Biden DOJ against Republicans.
A Political Investigation Disguised as Law Enforcement
Documents released by Sen. Chuck Grassley and members of the House Judiciary Committee show that the Arctic Frost probe began in 2022 and eventually moved under Special Counsel Jack Smith. The paperwork includes subpoena records, investigative memos, and internal DOJ approvals.
According to the records, investigators pursued not only President Trump and his legal team but hundreds of people and organizations connected to Republican politics. The targeting reads more like an intelligence-gathering operation on political opponents.
Key news outlets, including Fox News, CBS, and Newsmax, were swept up in subpoenas. Phone and communication metadata were collected from sitting lawmakers. Conservative nonprofit groups, donors, and state party organizations appear throughout the records.
The picture is clear. The Biden administration weaponized federal law enforcement to monitor and map the Republican political ecosystem in an effort to damage Donald Trump and anyone aligned with him.
What the Documents Reveal
Internal investigative files and subpoena logs show:
- 197 subpoenas issued, pulling data on 34 individuals and 163 businesses
- Communications tied to roughly 430 conservatives and Republican aligned entities
- Metadata collected from the phones of sitting U.S. senators and a House member
- Subpoenas requesting records involving conservative media outlets
- Donors, grassroots groups, and state GOP parties all swept up
- Gag orders were placed on phone companies so they could not notify lawmakers
The documents also show top leadership involvement. A DOJ memo authorizing the probe includes the signatures of Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and FBI Director Christopher Wray. The memo classifies the case as a “Sensitive Investigative Matter.”
Building a Political Enemies List
By most accounts, Arctic Frost basically functioned as an enemies list, not a criminal investigation.
Grassley’s report argues that the probe was political because it was not limited to a specific alleged crime. Instead, it mapped conservative activity. The subpoenas effectively created a real-time network diagram showing:
- Who donated to whom
- Which groups communicated with each other
- What media outlets were in contact with GOP officials
There is little in comparison to a scandal of this magnitude coming from the Federal Government.
Larger Than Watergate
During Watergate, operatives tried to spy on political rivals by breaking into an office. That scandal involved campaign staff.
Arctic Frost, based on the documents, involved:
- The power of federal law enforcement
- Secret subpoenas
- Gag orders on companies holding private communications
- Data collection involving the opposing political party
Arctic Frost clearly shows government power used as a weapon. Watergate was a break-in. This was federal surveillance.
Damaging the Rule of Law
Experts warn that if a government can use its justice system to investigate political rivals, the damage is larger than one scandal or one election. The damage goes beyond the Justice Department and wades into the Federal judiciary as well.
Instead of impartial enforcement, the records show federal agencies placing one political side under surveillance. That threatens fundamental protections such as:
- Free speech
- Privacy
- Separation of powers
If political control of government determines who gets investigated, elections are no longer a contest of ideas. They become a contest of who controls law enforcement power.
What Happens Next
Republicans have demanded testimony from Special Counsel Jack Smith as well as Garland and Wray. They are exploring criminal referrals and legislative reforms, including but not limited to:
- Banning the DOJ from secretly collecting metadata on elected officials
- Limiting the authority to open “Sensitive Investigative Matters”
- New oversight requirements to prevent investigations of political actors without disclosure
The investigation is ongoing, but the takeaway from the documents is clear: federal law enforcement did not remain neutral.
Final Takeaway
Arctic Frost clearly shows the Biden administration using federal agencies to investigate political opponents, media organizations, and donors aligned with the Republican Party. Watergate involved a burglary. This involved federal power.
Grassley summarized it in three words: “Bigger than Watergate.”
The documents paint a troubling picture of how deep the Biden administration was willing to go by weaponizing entire agencies against Trump and his conservative allies. This sort of abuse cannot go unpunished. All avenues of enforcement must be brought against any members of the previous administration who had any level of involvement.