Summary
Senator Chuck Grassley accused the FBI and former special counsel Jack Smith of violating the rights of Republican lawmakers by reviewing their phone records during a probe. The investigation was part of efforts to examine President Donald Trump's actions after losing the 2020 election. Grassley revealed that the phone records of multiple Republican members of Congress were analyzed, but plans no separate congressional investigation.
Key Facts
- Senator Chuck Grassley claimed the FBI wrongly looked at the phone records of several Republican lawmakers.
- The investigation was linked to President Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
- The phone records reviewed were from the week of January 6, 2021, when there was unrest at the U.S. Capitol.
- In August 2023, President Trump was charged with conspiring to change the election outcome, but the charges were dropped in 2024.
- The FBI used a grand jury subpoena to get the phone records.
- Grassley said the FBI's actions were an "egregious overreach," yet he will not push for a congressional investigation.
- Current FBI Director Kash Patel promised to end any political misuse of power within the FBI.
