FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was already taking action after it was revealed that former Special Counsel Jack Smith allegedly tracked GOP lawmakers' communications. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Patel also posted about it on X, saying, "Transparency is important, and accountability is critical. We promised both, and this is what promises kept looks like… We terminated employees, we abolished the weaponized CR-15 squad, and we initiated an ongoing investigation with more accountability measures ahead."
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino replied to the post and echoed Patel’s message, writing, "We promised you transparency and accountability. We will continue to deliver on those promises. You deserve better."
The CR-15 squad was the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s public corruption unit. The squad helped former Special Counsel Jack Smith investigate President Donald Trump, according to NBC News, which cited sources familiar with the matter.
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith, US special counsel, speaks during a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A document, reviewed by Fox News Digital on Monday, revealed that Smith and his "Arctic Frost" team investigating Jan. 6 were allegedly tracking the phone calls of GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and GOP Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania.
The document, recently discovered by Patel and exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, is titled "CAST Assistance" and dated Sept. 27, 2023. "CAST" refers to the FBI’s cellular analysis survey team. The case ID is marked in the document as "ARCTIC FROST—Election Law Matters—SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIVE MATTER—CAST."
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Additionally, it states the names of the lawmakers and that an FBI special agent on Smith’s team "conducted preliminary toll analysis" on the toll records associated with the lawmakers.
An FBI official told Fox News Digital that Smith and his team tracking the senators were able to see which phone numbers they called, the location the phone call originated and the location where it was received.
A source said the calls were likely in reference to the vote to certify the 2020 election.
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-fires-agents-dismantles-corruption-squad-after-probe-unveils-monitoring-gop-senators-patel-says