Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., was among several lawmakers reacting after news broke on Oct. 6, 2025, that Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 probe reportedly tracked the communications of roughly a dozen GOP senators. (Chip Somodevilla)
"The truth comes out. Biden’s Stasi who claimed to be saving ‘our sacred democracy’ in fact worked overtime to destroy it — all for power. They spied on Catholic churches, prosecuted pro-lifers, deployed the FBI against parents at school board meetings — and tried to tap the phones of their political enemies. Including mine," Hawley wrote on X.
"This is an abuse of power beyond Watergate, beyond J. Edgar Hoover, one that directly strikes at the Constitution, the separation of powers, and the First Amendment," he continued. "We need a full investigation of all involved: who knew about it, who ordered it, and who approved it. Anyone and everyone who violated the law must be prosecuted. The way to save the country is to restore the rule of law."
Hawley said he was targeted because he is a conservative Republican who vocally opposed Biden and "his lawlessness."
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., was among several lawmakers reacting after news broke on Oct. 6, 2025, that Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 probe reportedly tracked the communications of roughly a dozen GOP senators. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Hawley called for a full Justice Department investigation and said appointing a special counsel "who will devote their full attention to it" would be appropriate.
"We’ve got to have a total accountability, total transparency and a full accounting of everybody who was involved in this — everybody who knew about it, signed off on it, and had any part in it, and I just can’t imagine that this is legal… and anybody who committed legal violations needs to be prosecuted," he said.
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Hawley has framed the controversy as a test of constitutional limits, saying the government must be held accountable when power is used to pursue political opponents instead of upholding the rule of law.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hawley-rips-jack-smiths-bidens-stasi-probe-calls-alleged-spying-abuse-power-beyond-watergate