A whistleblower disclosure to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) alleges that former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election obtained private communications from nearly 50 journalists across major news organizations. The records were produced by the National Archives in response to a June 2023 subpoena seeking text messages from 87 phones used by officials in Donald Trump’s first White House administration, according to a spokesperson for Grassley’s office.
The subpoena targeted communications associated with White House phones, and the resulting records included messages between government officials and journalists from outlets such as The Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, Fox News, CBS News, CNBC, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR, and the Los Angeles Times. The disclosure was shared ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday.
Key Developments
- Whistleblower disclosure to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) revealed that Smith’s team collected journalists’ private messages as part of the “Arctic Frost” investigation.
- The National Archives produced records in response to a subpoena for 87 White House phones, which included communications involving nearly 50 journalists from major news organizations.
Scope of the Subpoena and Records
The subpoena issued in June 2023 sought text-message records from 87 phones used by officials during Trump’s first administration, according to Grassley’s office. The records produced by the National Archives included communications between government officials and journalists, as well as interactions with members of Congress, which had been previously disclosed.
The “Arctic Frost” investigation, led by Smith, examined President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The inclusion of journalists’ communications in the subpoenaed records has raised questions about the scope and targeting of the investigation.
Organizations Affected
The journalists whose communications were obtained in the records worked for a range of national news organizations, including:
- Broadcast networks: CNN, Fox News, CBS News (including 60 Minutes), NBC News
- Print and digital outlets: The Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times
- Radio and business media: NPR, CNBC
The records also included communications involving the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog group, according to a statement from its president, David Bozell, in 2025. Bozell noted that no broadcast network aired coverage of the alleged collection of communications involving conservative organizations and senators following public disclosures.
Reactions and Statements
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) characterized the collection of journalists’ communications as “disgraceful government overreach” and questioned why legacy media outlets had not covered the issue more extensively. Grassley’s comments were made in response to the whistleblower disclosure, which was shared with media outlets ahead of the Senate hearing.
The disclosure has prompted discussions about the potential implications for press freedom and the extent to which investigations into political figures may intersect with media communications. Critics have raised concerns about the broad scope of the subpoena and the inclusion of journalists’ private messages in the investigation’s records.
Background: The Arctic Frost Investigation
The “Arctic Frost” investigation, led by former special counsel Jack Smith, focused on alleged efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The investigation examined interactions between White House officials, members of Congress, and other associates as part of its broader inquiry into potential legal violations.
The subpoena for 87 White House phones was issued in June 2023 as part of this investigation. The National Archives, which retains records from the Trump administration, produced the requested communications in response to the subpoena. The inclusion of journalists’ messages in these records was not widely reported until the whistleblower disclosure.
Questions and Unanswered Details
While the whistleblower disclosure confirms the collection of journalists’ communications, several details remain unclear, including:
- The specific content of the journalists’ messages and whether they were directly relevant to the investigation.
- The legal justification provided by Smith’s team for including journalists’ communications in the subpoena.
- The extent to which the communications were reviewed or used in the investigation.
- Whether any journalists or news organizations were informed that their communications had been obtained as part of the investigation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is expected to further examine these questions and the broader implications of the disclosure.