The political firestorm surrounding the 2022 “Arctic Frost” investigation reached a new intensity on Thursday as Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) revealed he was a target in the probe and unleashed a blistering condemnation of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In a public statement, Scott framed the investigation—which scrutinized over 430 Republican individuals and organizations—as a direct attempt to “dismantle the Republican Party.”
Senator Scott stated he was informed by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) that he had been targeted by the investigation, which originated under the previous administration and focused on alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election.
“Let’s be very clear: this was a targeted attack to dismantle the Republican Party, destroy me and other elected members of Congress, and take down President Trump,” Senator Scott asserted. “This is a complete weaponization of government and unconstitutional abuse of power by the corrupt Biden administration.”
Scott’s revelation amplifies the demands from other prominent Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), for accountability. Cruz is demanding the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who approved an order blocking phone providers like AT&T from notifying lawmakers of subpoenas for their private records.
Cruz and his colleagues accuse Judge Boasberg of facilitating an unconstitutional “weaponized legal system.” Specifically, Cruz has focused on the judge’s justification for secrecy—claiming the Texas senator was likely to destroy or tamper with evidence related to the investigation into the January 6th Capitol attack.
Cruz vehemently rejected the judge’s reasoning: “If a judge signs an order reaching a factual conclusion for which there is zero evidence whatsoever, that judge is abusing his power.” Cruz derisively suggested Judge Boasberg approved the slew of subpoenas—totaling at least 197—without proper review, comparing the process to printing out “placemats at Denny’s.”
The “Arctic Frost” probe is confirmed to have targeted the phone records of at least nine Republican senators: Scott, Cruz, Ron Johnson (R-WI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
Senator Scott drew parallels to what he described as a history of political attacks against him, citing the release of his tax records by the IRS and a previous confrontation with the DOJ during the Clinton administration.
“I’ve seen this before… This is the same disgusting corruption,” he said.
The senators are uniting around the premise that the investigation unconstitutionally violated the Speech or Debate Clause, which is meant to protect the official acts of members of Congress. Lawmakers are demanding “Watergate-style” hearings to investigate the DOJ and FBI’s conduct.
Senator Scott concluded with a powerful vow for retribution: “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED. Everyone involved in this gross abuse of power must be held accountable.”
The newly revealed context that Senator Scott was also a target further fuels the Republican push for accountability against both the DOJ officials involved and the judge who authorized the controversial subpoenas.
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