Rick Scott demands answers from Verizon about coughing up phone records for ‘Arctic Frost’ probe

Sen. Rick Scott is demanding answers from Verizon about the telecom giant’s decision to release cellphone data after revelations that the Biden Justice Department spied on Republican lawmakers as part of its “Arctic Frost” investigation.

He said these questions are not only for himself, but on behalf of the millions of Americans “who believe their data is safe with Verizon.”

Mr. Scott learned that his data was targeted and that Verizon failed to notify him or make any effort to protect his data from the “Arctic Frost” probe, which targeted President Trump and Republicans after Mr. Trump challenged the 2020 election results.

“The Biden administration’s secretive surveillance of Congress not only represented a desecration of our constitutional separation of powers, but it also appears to have violated federal law,” said Mr. Scott, Florida Republican.

In a letter to Verizon on Tuesday, the senator demanded the company explain why it did not file a motion to quash a subpoena for his phone records and what disciplinary measures were taken against those complicit in releasing data. He gave the company a Nov. 17 deadline to respond.

Details of “Arctic Frost,” which was approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, were revealed in recently declassified Justice Department documents. The broad criminal investigation targeted Mr. Trump, Republican lawmakers and Republican groups.

Special counsel Jack Smith and his legal team issued 197 subpoenas seeking records and communications of more than 430 individuals and organizations, all of whom appeared to be Republicans.

In 2023, Subpoenas were issued to individuals and businesses seeking statistical data and analysis relating to Republican fundraising and individual communication, including phone records of 11 members of Congress.

Verizon “appears to have rolled over and complied with the unlawful subpoena and cover-up,” complying with a court gag order, Mr. Scott said in the letter to Verizon.

AT&T refused to comply, Mr. Scott said, and yet Verizon said it “had no choice but to comply” because a court ordered it not to tell anyone.

Also this week, Rep. Brandon Gill, Texas Republican, drew up an article of impeachment against Judge James Boasberg, who signed off on Mr. Smith’s subpoenas to gain phone records. Mr. Boasberg ordered that the phone companies not reveal the situation to the lawmakers.

Mr. Scott took to social media last week to demand that “everyone involved in this gross abuse of power must be held accountable.”

The senator also sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting a full investigation into “this gross abuse of power by the Biden DOJ’s unlawful spying on Republican lawmakers and weaponization.”

Mr. Scott has noted that “Arctic Frost” was the third instance in which he was targeted by the executive branch, following the Clinton Justice Department going after him because he opposed the Hillarycare, a failed health care system overhaul led by then-first lady Hillary Clinton, and the Biden Internal Revenue Service releasing his tax returns to ProPublica.

“And this time it was weaponized against my colleagues, too,” he said on social media. “It’s an abuse of power, and we need accountability NOW!”