JACKSON, WY — Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis isn’t holding back after reports surfaced alleging that the Biden administration’s FBI spied on the private communications of several Republican U.S. Senators, including her own.
In a statement released Monday, Lummis called the surveillance “a blatant assault on our constitutional rights” and “an authoritarian, unconstitutional attack on the legislative branch.”
“I’m absolutely appalled that the Biden administration used the FBI to spy on the private communications of Republican U.S. Senators — myself included,” Lummis said. “This was a calculated attempt to sabotage the separation of powers. Those responsible must be held accountable, and we must ensure this abuse of power can never happen again.”
What Happened
According to newly declassified documents obtained by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, the FBI — under a now-scrapped operation code-named “Arctic Frost” — accessed tolling data from the personal cell phones of eight Republican Senators in early January 2021.
That data included call times, durations, and associated numbers — but not the contents of calls or messages. The surveillance reportedly spanned January 4–7, 2021, surrounding the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
The Senators identified include:
- Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
- Bill Hagerty (R-TN)
- Josh Hawley (R-MO)
- Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
- Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
- Ron Johnson (R-WI)
- Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
- Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Grassley described the operation as “arguably worse than Watergate,” accusing the administration of weaponizing law enforcement against its political opponents.
FBI Fallout
FBI Director Kash Patel has since confirmed that agents tied to the Arctic Frost operation have been terminated and that the Bureau’s “CR-15” public corruption unit has been dismantled. Patel told reporters the moves were necessary to “identify the rot” and restore integrity within the agency.
Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee has launched additional oversight hearings into the Department of Justice and FBI conduct. Lawmakers are demanding clarity on how the operation was authorized and whether the data collection complied with constitutional standards.
Legal and Political Implications
The revelations come amid mounting scrutiny of federal surveillance powers. Earlier this year, a federal court ruled that the FBI’s “backdoor searches” of Americans’ communications under FISA were unconstitutional, a decision now seen as highly relevant to this case.
Legal experts say this could spark renewed calls for sweeping surveillance reform, including restrictions on warrantless data collection and greater transparency when lawmakers or journalists are involved.
What It Means for Wyoming
For Wyoming residents, this isn’t just a D.C. drama. Senator Lummis has become one of the most vocal critics of federal overreach, and her inclusion in the investigation puts Wyoming squarely at the center of the national debate over privacy and government power.
Expect Lummis to push for hearings, new legislation, and, in her words, “accountability for those who crossed the line.”
My Take: Wyoming Doesn’t Do Surveillance (Unless It’s Moose Watching)
So apparently the FBI decided it was a good idea to snoop on a few Republican Senators, including our own Cynthia Lummis, right around the time most of us were just trying to figure out how to shovel our driveways and keep the moose out of traffic.
If true, this might be the most Wyoming thing ever: D.C. spies tapping the phones of people who probably still answer with, “Howdy.”
Here’s the deal, we all know the feds love “oversight,” but this time it looks like they skipped the over part and went straight for sight. The surveillance program, “Arctic Frost,” sounds less like a government operation and more like a new vodka flavor at The Cowboy Bar.
Meanwhile, the FBI says the agents responsible have been fired. Great, but when the agency that’s supposed to protect your rights is the one poking through your call logs, it feels a little like being told not to worry because the fox “no longer works” at the henhouse.
Wyoming folks don’t like being watched, whether it’s a nosy HOA neighbor or a federal agent with too much free time. And if D.C. wants to start cleaning house, they might start by remembering that “accountability” isn’t supposed to be a seasonal trend.
As for Senator Lummis, she’s promising this won’t slide. And whether you agree with her politics or not, one thing’s clear: In Wyoming, we call that spine.
Sources:
- Sen. Lummis Official Statement
- Senate Judiciary Committee Findings
- Associated Press: FBI Reviewed Senators’ Phone Data
- Fox News: FBI Fires Agents After Probe
- The Verge: FBI’s Warrantless Searches Ruled Unconstitutional
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
