White House Counsel Allowed FBI to Obtain Phones Without a Warrant in Investigation Linked to Anti-Trump Agent
March 14, 2025 – The Biden White House provided government-issued cellphones belonging to former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence to the FBI in May 2022. This move was part of an investigation into the events following the 2020 election, according to exclusive reports from Fox News Digital.
FBI Obtains Phones Without a Warrant
The FBI received the phones directly from the White House without requiring a search warrant. However, after acquiring the devices, agents started preparing a warrant to extract data from them, according to sources familiar with the case.
An insider told Fox News Digital that the Biden administration actively cooperated with the FBI’s investigation into Trump. The White House Counsel, under Dana Remus and Jonathan Su, authorized the FBI to take possession of the phones.
Investigation Tied to Anti-Trump FBI Agent
The phones became evidence in the FBI’s ongoing probe into Trump’s actions post-election. This investigation, named “Arctic Frost,” was initiated on April 13, 2022, by former FBI agent Timothy Thibault, who has been accused of political bias.
Whistleblower reports revealed that Thibault broke FBI protocol by launching this investigation without proper authorization. Only special agents have the authority to open criminal cases, but Thibault moved forward despite lacking that authority.
Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate that Thibault viewed the case as a top priority. He allegedly pushed for its launch, stating, “It frankly took too long for us to open this investigation.”
Senators Demand Transparency
Republican Senators Chuck Grassley (Iowa) and Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) obtained whistleblower disclosures detailing the investigation and shared them with Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.
In a letter to Bondi and Patel, Grassley and Johnson expressed concerns about political bias within the DOJ and FBI. They criticized the agencies for prioritizing investigations against Trump while failing to remain neutral.
The records show that, by late April 2022, the FBI had already scheduled over a dozen interviews as part of the probe, involving agents from 13 field offices nationwide.
How the Phones Were Obtained
A key document dated April 25, 2022, stated that the DOJ and FBI were aware that Trump’s and Pence’s phones were still in the White House’s possession. Following this, the FBI retrieved the devices on May 4, 2022.
After securing the phones, the FBI did not immediately process them. Instead, agents waited until they had legal approval through search warrants before extracting data.
On the same day, FBI officials interviewed Deputy White House Counsel Jonathan Su. Just a few days later, on May 9, 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., requested additional details from White House Counsel Dana Remus.
Biden Administration Remains Silent
Neither Remus nor Su provided comments on the matter when approached by Fox News Digital. Additionally, representatives for President Biden did not respond when asked whether he was aware of the decision to hand over the phones.
Meanwhile, FBI agents also sought interviews with several former Trump administration officials, including staff from the DOJ, the Office of the President and Vice President, and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.
Congress Pushes for FBI Accountability
Senators Grassley and Johnson have publicly demanded transparency from the FBI and DOJ, stating that the investigation was politically motivated.
They argue that the American people deserve full disclosure of the events surrounding the Arctic Frost probe. In their letter, they insisted that the DOJ and FBI provide all records, financial breakdowns, and internal communications related to the investigation.
The letter emphasized that every agency member must act professionally and avoid political bias in their investigations.
FBI Responds to Senate Inquiry
The senators have given Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel until March 27, 2025, to submit the requested records.
FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson acknowledged the request, stating, “As always, per Director Patel’s directive, our team will work aggressively to comply with congressional requests.”
Former FBI Agent Thibault’s History of Bias
Thibault, the FBI agent behind the Arctic Frost investigation, was fired in 2024 after violating the Hatch Act due to political social media posts. Whistleblowers previously accused him of displaying clear political bias, which may have influenced his handling of Trump-related investigations.
Jack Smith and Trump’s Legal Battles
In November 2022, special counsel Jack Smith took over the Arctic Frost probe. Smith, a former Justice Department official, also led investigations into Trump’s classified documents case and potential election interference.
Although Trump was charged, he pleaded not guilty in both cases.
However, in July 2024, a Florida judge dismissed the classified documents case, ruling that Smith’s appointment was unlawful. Additionally, after Trump won re-election, Smith moved to drop the election interference case, which a judge later approved.
Final Thoughts
This latest revelation raises concerns about potential political interference within the FBI and DOJ. With increasing scrutiny on how investigations are conducted, lawmakers continue to push for more accountability within federal law enforcement agencies.
Disclaimer – Our team has carefully fact-checked this article to make sure it’s accurate and free from any misinformation. We’re dedicated to keeping our content honest and reliable for our readers.