Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has made public internal FBI documents showing that an agent with known anti-Trump views was responsible for initiating the 2020 election case against President Donald Trump. The records indicate that former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault was instrumental in drafting and approving the initial steps of the investigation, despite lacking proper authorization.
The investigation, which the FBI labeled “Arctic Frost,” officially began on April 13, 2022. However, internal emails reveal that Thibault was actively involved as early as February, providing draft language for the case and advocating for Trump’s inclusion as a target. One email shows Thibault instructing a subordinate on how to proceed with the investigation, setting the groundwork for what would later become Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case.
In my opening statement at Kash Patel’s hrg I revealed never b4 seen whistleblower records proving w/o a doubt that anti-Trump FBI agent Tim Thibault launched elector case 2target Trump Perfect example of FBI politicization FBI NEEDS CHANGE Kash Patel is the right person to do it
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) January 30, 2025
FBI procedures require higher-level approval for politically sensitive cases, yet the released documents suggest that Thibault bypassed standard procedures. Another email from April 2022 confirms that the FBI Deputy Director signed off on the case following Thibault’s involvement.
At the Kash Patel senate hearing, Senator Grassley releases previously unseen FBI emails referencing project “Arctic Frost,” proving the FBI’s efforts to prosecute Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/rKRt0Iq28X
— Timcast News (@TimcastNews) January 30, 2025
The documents also implicate Richard Pilger, an official from the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, who reviewed and approved the Arctic Frost investigation. Pilger had previously been flagged by Grassley for his role in politically charged cases involving Trump and his allies.
Grassley presented the whistleblower records during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI Director. He argued that these documents expose a pattern of politically motivated investigations designed to undermine Trump.
https://twitter.com/15poundstogo/status/1885122385839304782
Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) have formally requested that Jack Smith preserve all records related to Arctic Frost. The senators say the newly revealed information raises concerns about the FBI’s handling of politically sensitive investigations.
