Probe Into Trump, GOP Lawmakers Over Jan. 6 Weak On Evidence
The FBI memo that initiated the Biden-era Arctic Frost investigation into President Donald Trump and hundreds of his allies over their activities related to January 6 lacked substantial evidence and clear legal justification, according to several former prosecutors and FBI agents who reviewed the newly released document and identified multiple deficiencies.
The investigation, code-named Arctic Frost, was initially led by an FBI supervisor who had expressed anti-Trump sentiments and was later taken over by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
The probe treated the effort by Trump’s allies to submit alternate electors to Congress during the 2020 election certification as a potential criminal conspiracy — despite similar actions in two prior instances of U.S. history not resulting in prosecution, Just the News reported.
According to the newly released materials, the FBI memo that launched the investigation in spring 2022 — around the same time Trump announced his bid for the presidency — relied heavily on interview clips from CNN as primary evidence “suggesting” Trump’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy, the outlet added.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said Wednesday that he believes the FBI memo authorizing the Arctic Frost investigation was legally flawed and reflected the same politicization and investigative overreach seen in the 2016 Russia collusion probe, code-named “Crossfire Hurricane.”
Jordan obtained the document from current FBI Director Kash Patel and told Just the News that both investigations targeted Trump based on weak evidence and partisan motives before ultimately being discredited.
“Sure looks that way. … and it looks like this was just the same old weaponization, same old political focus, focus on politics, going after your political enemies,” Jordan said during a wide-ranging interview on the Just the News, No Noise TV show.
“Same mindset that said we’re going to put the dossier in the intelligence community assessment, even though we know the dossier is garbage, we know there’s no underlying intelligence support,” he continued.
“That same mindset that was there in 2016 is the mindset we see now in 2022 with Arctic Frost, and then as it transformed into Jack Smith, special counsel, later in 2022—same mindset. So yeah, that’s what it sure looks like,” he added.
Smith has denied any wrongdoing and said he intends to present his side of the story. Jordan has invited Smith to testify before the committee, warning that he will issue a subpoena if Smith declines to appear voluntarily.
Documents released in recent weeks by Patel indicate that the Arctic Frost investigation was approved at the highest levels of the Biden administration, including by Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, with assistance from a lawyer in the White House.
The inquiry centered on efforts by Republican officials in several states to submit alternate slates of electors ahead of Congress’s certification of the 2020 presidential election on January 6, 2021.
The probe was later transferred from the FBI to Smith’s office, which issued subpoenas to hundreds of Trump allies.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Wednesday released 197 subpoenas that Smith and his Justice Department team issued “as part of the indiscriminate election case against President Trump,” identifying more than 400 Republican groups and individuals whose information was sought.
Separately, the House Judiciary Committee disclosed that more than 160 Republicans — including many closely tied to Trump — were flagged for possible investigation under the Arctic Frost operation.
The opening electronic communication (EC) that launched what became a broad investigation into Trump associates was written and approved in April 2022 under the title “Requests Opening of New Investigation – Arctic Frost.”
The probe, designated as a “Sensitive Investigative Matter” (SIM), was authorized by then–Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault — who later left the FBI after his anti-Trump social media posts came to light — along with other senior bureau officials, including Steve D’Antuono, then the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Paul Abbate, who was serving as the FBI’s Deputy Director at the time.
BREAKING: Bret Baier cuts into live broadcast with urgent update on Trump
Fox News’ Bret Baier Caught on Video Getting Ticketed in D.C. amid Trump’s Police Takeover
"I didn't know there was paparazzi," Baier said after footage of him getting pulled over was shared to X
Fox News anchor Bret Baier was ticketed in Washington, D.C., amid President Donald Trump's overhaul of the city's police.
One week after the president seized control of the Metropolitan Police Department — a move he claimed would help to fight crime and target the city's homeless population — Baier, 55, was seen getting a ticket for distracted driving by an MPD officer.
Fox News' Bret Baier gets a ticket in Washington, D.C.
Roy Rochlin/Getty; Mollaan Babbington Group of COMPASS via Storyful
The Special Report host explained in a post on X that he picked up his phone as he drove past an officer in Georgetown, resulting in the ticket. As in much of the rest of the United States, it is illegal to use a cellphone while simultaneously driving in Washington, unless hands-free technology is being used.
"I didn't know there was paparazzi," Baier added at the end of his message.Members of the National Guard patrol at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14, 2025.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty
After the president announced his administration's takeover of Washington, D.C., law enforcement on Aug. 11, the Metropolitan Police Department fell under federal control. Attorney General Pam Bondi was put in charge of the D.C. police, and Trump warned he was ready to deploy other military forces "if needed."
The capital takeover prompted widespread protests, confrontations at ICE checkpoints and further curfews. Although the citizen response is largely negative, the Trump administration has expressed satisfaction with how the takeover is unfolding.Trump claimed the move was in response to a "public safety emergency," despite local crime data showing otherwise. The president has accused city officials of falsifying data.
The Washington, D.C., takeover was initially planned to be 30 days long, though Trump has expressed desire to extend the period — and apply the same methods in other U.S. cities.
"Our whole country is going to be so different and so great," Trump said on Aug. 13. "It's going to be clean and safe and beautiful, and people are going to love our flag more than they've ever loved it. And we're going to do a great job."
President Trump has to stop live speech as he rushed from podium after ‘medical emergency’
BREAKING: Trump Abruptly Halts Speech After Sudden Medical Emergency Inside White House
Washington, D.C. — What began as a routine national security briefing quickly turned into a moment of confusion and concern that left both the press and the public searching for answers.
President Donald Trump was in the middle of delivering remarks on rising global tensions, including warnings about Iran and nuclear threats, when the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. Witnesses describe a sudden break in focus—an interruption that escalated within seconds into what appeared to be a medical emergency.
Before most viewers at home could fully grasp what was happening, the live broadcast abruptly cut to black.
A Sudden Turn Behind Closed Doors
According to individuals present in the room, confusion spread rapidly. A child reportedly collapsed, triggering immediate alarm among those nearby. Among the first to react was Mehmet Oz, who moved swiftly toward the scene.
Observers noted that his response was immediate and instinctive—less that of a public figure, and more that of a concerned parent and trained physician. His wife, visibly shaken, added to the intensity of the moment unfolding just feet away from the podium.
At nearly the same time, Karoline Leavitt issued a firm directive to clear the room. Reporters were quickly ushered out, cutting off any chance for immediate clarification.
Silence Replaces Answers
Within moments, the press conference was officially terminated. No explanation was offered. No follow-up briefing was announced.
The abrupt end left a void—both in the room and across the nation. Viewers were left staring at blank screens, while journalists scrambled for details that, as of now, remain unconfirmed.
A Human Moment in a High-Stakes Setting
What makes the incident particularly striking is where it occurred: inside one of the most secure and controlled environments in the world. The Oval Office is typically a place of calculated messaging and strict protocol. Yet in this instance, those layers of control appeared to dissolve in an instant.The contrast was stark. Just seconds earlier, the focus had been on geopolitical threats and national defense. Suddenly, the narrative shifted to something far more immediate and personal—a family crisis unfolding in real time.
What Happens Next?
As of now, the White House has not released an official statement clarifying the nature of the emergency or the condition of those involved.
Until more information emerges, the public is left piecing together fragments:
A speech interrupted mid-sentence
A rushed response from a doctor and parent
A distressed family at the center of attention
And a room cleared with urgency and silence
In Washington, where every moment is usually scripted and controlled, this unexpected incident serves as a stark reminder: even at the highest levels of power, unpredictability can take over without warning.
