
Internal FBI records made public by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) indicate that a former bureau official with open hostility toward President Donald Trump was behind the effort to launch the investigation that led to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case. The documents show that Timothy Thibault, a former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, was responsible for drafting the initial language that formed the basis of the case against Trump.
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
The investigation, which the FBI labeled “Arctic Frost,” officially began on April 13, 2022, but internal communications reveal that Thibault had already been working on the case two months prior. A February 2022 email shows him sending a draft to a subordinate, outlining the justification for opening the probe. In April, another email confirms that Thibault pushed to include Trump as a subject in the case before it received full approval.
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
FBI rules require strict oversight for politically sensitive investigations, yet the records suggest Thibault disregarded protocol. An April email confirms that the FBI’s deputy director approved the case only after Thibault had already moved forward with investigative steps.
https://twitter.com/15poundstogo/status/1885122385839304782
The records also show that Richard Pilger, a DOJ official known for his involvement in election-related cases, reviewed and approved the FBI’s request to escalate the case. Grassley had previously raised concerns about Pilger’s role in past investigations that appeared to target Trump and his associates.
Grassley introduced the records during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Kash Patel’s FBI Director confirmation. He cited them as proof that political motivations played a role in shaping federal investigations into Trump.
Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) have demanded that Special Counsel Jack Smith retain all records linked to Arctic Frost, as they continue to scrutinize how the case was initiated and who was involved in its development.