NEWS

Hagerty pressures Verizon after company allegedly shared data without notice

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Bill Hagerty is demanding answers from Verizon about why the company allegedly turned over his private cellphone data to the FBI without informing him after revelations that former special counsel Jack Smith tracked his and other Republican lawmakers’ phone communications surrounding their Jan. 6, 2021, investigation.

Fox News Digital first reported On Monday, Smith and his The “Arctic Frost” team investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol breach allegedly monitored phone calls from Hagerty and fellow Republican senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Republican Rep. Mike. Kelly from Pennsylvania.

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained an FBI document listing the lawmakers’ names and indicating that an FBI special agent on Smith’s team “conducted preliminary toll analysis” on toll records associated with them.

JACK SMITH MONITORED PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS AND CALLS OF NEARLY A DOZEN GOP SENATORS DURING J6 INVESTIGATION, FBI SAYS

Senator Bill Hagerty speaking during the hearing

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington on May 16, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

An FBI official told Fox News that Digital Smith and his team were able to see the phone numbers senators called, as well as where each call came from and where it was received.

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained a letter from Hagerty, R-Tenn., sent to Verizon.

“This week I received shocking news: Without my consent and without my knowledge, the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained confidential information regarding my cell phone use,” Hagerty wrote. “Despite numerous public reports of this extraordinary intrusion into my privacy – which also amounts to an unprecedented intrusion into the separation of powers – I have received no communication or contact from Verizon Communications Inc., which may have been the sole source of this information.”

Lawmakers are asking Verizon to provide details about when he disclosed private information about his cellphone use and why the company failed to notify him.

Lawmakers are asking Verizon to provide details about when he disclosed private information about his cellphone use and why the company failed to notify him. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Hagerty asked Verizon to provide details about when she disclosed private information about her cellphone usage and why the company did not notify her.

GOP SENATOR ASKS FBI TO REVEAL IF SURVEILLANCE WENT BEYOND JACK SMITH PHONE TRACKING

Hagerty also asked Verizon whether the company had received a subpoena, request or request from the federal government seeking this information, as well as details of any information the company provided.

Hagerty also wants to know “any efforts made by Verizon to object to or limit its responses to the subpoena, request or request” regarding its private communications.

Hagerty asked the company to respond by the end of Friday.

Hagerty also wants Verizon to provide any communications, documents, records or recordings received from the federal government in connection with the case.

In a statement Friday to Fox News Digital in response to Hagerty’s letter, Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said, “Federal law requires companies like Verizon to respond to grand jury subpoenas.

“We received a valid subpoena and a court order to keep it confidential,” Young told Fox News Digital. “We were not told why the information was requested or what the investigation was about.

“As required, we have provided the requested customer information and call recordings.”

“Arctic Frost” was opened in the office on April 13, 2022. Smith was appointed special counsel to take over the investigation in November 2022.

An FBI official told Fox News Digital that “Arctic Frost” is a “no-go case” and that the review required officials to go “above and beyond in order to deliver on that promise of transparency.” The discovery is part of a broader, ongoing review.

Jack Smith gives a speech in August 2023.

Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on an unsealed indictment, including four counts, against former President Donald Trump, August 1, 2023, in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the FBI laid off employees and disbanded the CR-15 team. FBI Director Kash Patel announced that action had been taken in response to the revelation of “baseless surveillance” of US lawmakers.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“We are cleaning up a sick temple three decades in the making – identifying the rot, weeding out those who have used law enforcement for political purposes and those who do not meet the standards of that mission, while restoring the integrity of the FBI. I promised reform and I intend to deliver,” Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Patel also posted about it on X, saying: “Transparency is important and accountability is essential. We promised both, and here’s what the kept promises look like… We’ve laid off employees, we’ve abolished the CR-15 Armed Squad, and we’ve launched an ongoing investigation with more accountability measures to come.

Related Articles

Back to top button