In a recent development, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been revealed as the latest Republican senator whose phone records were subpoenaed as part of the investigations led by former Special Counsel Jack Smith.
The investigations were centered around President Trump and the protest that took place at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
According to RedState, Cruz is the ninth GOP senator known to have his phone records sought by Smith. He joins a list that includes Senators Marsha Blackburn (TN), Ron Johnson (WI), Bill Hagerty (TN), Josh Hawley (MO), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Lindsey Graham (SC), Dan Sullivan (AK), and Tommy Tuberville (AL), as revealed by a Senate panel earlier this month. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) was also implicated in the investigation, known as "Arctic Frost."
Axios, the first to report on the Cruz revelations, stated that the Texas senator's "phone records were ultimately not analyzed as part of Smith's Jan. 6 Capitol attack investigation because AT&T did not comply with the subpoena." Cruz, visibly agitated, likened the attempts to target his phone records and those of his colleagues to a "21st-century digital Watergate."
In a statement, Cruz said, "This was intentional, targeted political spying that likely went to the very highest levels of the administration. There should be the broadest possible investigations and accountability." The document reviewed by Axios was a broad search for names and addresses, along with "detail records for inbound and outbound calls, text messages, direct connect, and voicemail messages" associated with Cruz's cellphone between January 4th and 7th of 2021.
This incident has raised concerns about the weaponization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Biden's administration. Critics argue that such actions undermine the principles of limited government and individual freedom, cornerstones of conservative values.
Sen. Hawley previously responded to reports that his phone records had been sought with a strong condemnation. "Bidens Stasi, who claimed to be saving 'our sacred democracy,' in fact worked overtime to destroy it - all for power," he wrote. "They spied on Catholic churches, prosecuted pro-lifers, deployed the FBI against parents at school board meetings, and tried to tap the phones of their political enemies. Including mine."
Hawley called for prosecutions for those involved in trying to track the communications of he and his colleagues. The House Judiciary Committee last week called on Smith to testify about what they have termed "abusive surveillance."
Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) wrote, "As the Special Counsel, you are ultimately responsible for the prosecutorial misconduct and constitutional abuses of your office." However, as Cruz suggests, the issue may extend beyond Smith.
Smith, who led two failed investigations into Trump over election interference and classified documents, is now himself under investigation by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) for potentially violating the Hatch Act.
This latest development underscores the need for accountability and adherence to the principles of limited government and individual freedom, as championed by conservatives.
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