The political firestorm surrounding the Justice Department’s (DOJ) “Arctic Frost” investigation intensified today as Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) was joined by Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) at a press conference to demand the impeachment of D.C. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg.
The Republican lawmakers accused the DOJ, under the previous administration, of running a covert “witch hunt” to spy on Republican Members of Congress by obtaining their phone records and location data. They argue that the operation was an unconstitutional violation of the Fourth Amendment protection against unwarranted searches and seizures.
Focus Shifts to the Judiciary
While Senator Scott previously called for a DOJ investigation and disbarment proceedings against former Special Counsel Jack Smith, the press conference marked a significant escalation, squarely targeting the federal judge who signed off on the subpoenas.
The lawmakers asserted that Chief Judge Boasberg, an Obama appointee, violated federal law and facilitated the “unprecedented weaponization of government” by authorizing the FBI to obtain direct access to the phone records of elected officials, including Senator Scott.
“President Biden’s DOJ ran a covert operation, known as ‘Arctic Frost,’ to spy on Republican Members of Congress,” the lawmakers stated. “This protection was violated by the FBI at the direct order of former Special Counsel Jack Smith and signed-off upon by D.C. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg.”
The Republicans reiterated that the secret surveillance compromised the constitutional principle of the separation of powers and was intended to “suppress, to diminish Republican Senators and other Republicans” in the country, a claim first made public when Sen. Scott learned his own records were subpoenaed without his knowledge.
Congressman Donalds announced he is pushing for the House to begin impeachment proceedings against Judge Boasberg, while Sen. Scott maintained his push for the impeachment of the Judge and disbarment proceedings against Smith.
The “Arctic Frost” probe was reportedly conducted in support of the Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into attempts to challenge the 2020 election results, but the Republican lawmakers insist no legal predicate has been offered for targeting their communications.
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