In 2023, the FBI obtained phone records for approximately eight Republican U.S. senators and one Republican U.S. representative as part of the Arctic Frost investigation.
2023
high
statistical
Reported scope of the FBI's data collection tied to the Arctic Frost investigation.
The phone records obtained by the FBI in 2023 for the Arctic Frost investigation did not include the content of calls and instead comprised metadata such as which lawmakers were called, timestamps, and call durations.
2023
high
descriptive
Characterization of the type of phone data reported to have been collected in the Arctic Frost matter.
The Arctic Frost investigation, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, was launched in response to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack and focused on efforts to challenge the 2020 U.S. presidential election results.
January 06, 2021
high
temporal
Describes the origin and focus of the Arctic Frost special counsel investigation.
Arctic Frost is an FBI criminal investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
high
descriptive
Name and purpose of the investigation referenced in reporting about post‑2020 election probes.
'Arctic Frost' was an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice that functioned as a precursor to special counsel Jack Smith's election investigation.
medium
descriptive
Describes the organizational relationship between an internal DOJ/FBI probe and a subsequent special counsel election investigation
Arctic Frost is the code name used for ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into President Donald Trump and the 2020 election.
high
temporal
Naming/definition of a federal investigative probe referenced in reporting on legal actions related to the 2020 election.