Special counsel Jack Smith obtained former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s personal cellphone records from AT&T as part of the investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot. This revelation comes after conflicting information about whether the telecom company had shared McCarthy’s phone records.
Earlier reports suggested that AT&T had not handed over any records to Smith, despite receiving a subpoena. However, a letter obtained by Fox News revealed that AT&T did send McCarthy’s records to the special counsel. According to the letter, Smith requested the toll records for McCarthy’s personal cell phone on January 24, 2023. The company later learned it had inadvertently provided these records, which it did not initially realize were linked to a member of Congress.
AT&T explained that the subpoena did not mention McCarthy’s name and only asked for records related to a personal phone number. Because of this, the company did not make any extra checks before complying with the legal demand. AT&T’s Global Legal Demand Center receives thousands of such requests each year, and this particular subpoena was treated as routine.
McCarthy responded strongly to the news, claiming that Smith broke the law by seizing his phone records while he was the House Speaker. He expressed concern that if this can happen to a top official, it could happen to anyone. McCarthy urged the Department of Justice to hold Smith accountable.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and scrutiny around the investigations into the January 6 events. It raises questions about transparency and the limits of legal authority when it comes to high-profile political figures.
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