Newly obtained documents released by Chuck Grassley outline details of a federal investigation that examined several Republican lawmakers shortly after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, as reported [1] by The Blaze.
According to materials published by the Daily Caller and reviewed during a Senate hearing, the FBI launched an inquiry known as “Rampart Twelve” just two days after Biden’s inauguration. The investigation focused on Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, and former Rep. Mo Brooks.
The probe was initiated on Jan. 22, 2021, following complaints from Democratic lawmakers, including then-Reps. Mikie Sherrill, John Yarmuth, and Steve Cohen.
The complaints alleged that certain Republicans “may have assisted or conspired with persons, groups, or organizations who planned or organized the unlawful entry on January 6, 2021, of the United States Capitol Building.”
Records indicate that the FBI obtained toll records for at least Boebert and Gosar as part of the investigation. These records can include identifying details about calls, such as time, duration, and location.
Internal communications cited in the documents suggest that some officials expressed concerns about the viability of the case. Messages between prosecutors reportedly acknowledged that proving intent by the targeted lawmakers “might be impossible” and that some of the evidence cited “does not look suspicious.”
Despite those concerns, the investigation moved forward. The documents also reference communication between prosecutor J.P. Cooney and FBI agent Timothy Thibault regarding the legal framework for investigating members of Congress.
Cooney noted that a 2020 memorandum issued by then-Attorney General Bill Barr required additional approvals before investigating declared congressional candidates. However, he indicated that the lawmakers in question were already sworn in, suggesting the requirements did not apply in the same way.
The Rampart Twelve investigation remained active until at least January 2022. At that point, Thibault informed another FBI official that headquarters had directed the case to be closed.
During a Senate hearing Tuesday, Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt read a statement from Grassley summarizing the findings.
“Rampart Twelve appears to be a predecessor case to Arctic Frost,” Grassley said. “The evidence to support the investigation didn’t exist. Even so, J.P. Cooney personally concurred with opening the investigation even though his text messages told a different tale.”
Schmitt also commented on the documents, stating, “These bombshell documents reveal that bad actors at the highest levels of our government and intelligence agencies targeted broad swaths of the America[n] right and sitting members of Congress with no evidence of wrongdoing.”
He added, “This fishing expedition was nothing more than a political agenda. Finally, under the leadership of Chairman Grassley and the work of this committee, we are shining a light on this corruption that the Democrats ignored under Biden, and we will not stop until there is full accountability for those involved.”
Grassley also issued a separate statement emphasizing the role of oversight.
“If not for my investigative work and brave whistleblowers, we wouldn’t know about FBI agents’ and DOJ prosecutors’ disgraceful efforts to try and destroy Republicans,” he said.
“My Democrat colleagues want to ignore these facts and evidence and defend the fired officials who participated in Biden’s lawfare. I’ll continue working to expose the widespread constitutional abuses that occurred under the Biden administration, because transparency brings accountability.”
New documents show the FBI opened an investigation in 2021, just days after the Jan. 6 riot, into Reps. Boebert & Gosar, among others.
The FBI didn’t have evidence to support it, according to Grassley (currently out for an illness), but kept it running for a year. pic.twitter.com/XMhtFMb2SZ [3]— Sarah Bedford (@sarahcbedford) April 21, 2026 [4]
As of Tuesday, no major liberal media outlets had reported on the details of the Rampart Twelve investigation.
The documents add to ongoing scrutiny of federal investigative actions taken in the period following the Jan. 6, 2021, protests and raise questions about how such inquiries were initiated and conducted.