The bizarre "self-awarded trophy" was created to celebrate Operation Arctic Frost that targeted Trump and his allies, according to Patel. (Kash Patel X)
Patel’s comments come as Republican lawmakers continue to raise alarms about the FBI’s Arctic Frost probe, which later fed into former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s work.
In October, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., unveiled 197 subpoenas they said the Biden-era FBI used to seek testimony and documents from hundreds of Republicans and GOP entities.
Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith waits to testify before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at the Capitol in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
Smith, whose team used Arctic Frost in mounting charges tied to the 2020 election that were later dismissed after Trump’s victory in 2024, has defended his work and appeared on Capitol Hill to face questions from the House Judiciary Committee.
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Republicans have criticized Smith for seeking gag orders against Trump during his presidential campaign, fast-tracking court proceedings, subpoenaing records and phone data of Trump-aligned individuals and entities – including members of Congress – and approving $20,000 in payments to an FBI confidential human source to gather intelligence on Trump, a source familiar told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital’s Ashley Oliver 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/patel-reveals-bizarre-self-awarded-trophy-former-fbi-officials-made-celebrate-trump-probe