AT&T Turned Kevin McCarthy's Cellphone Records over to Jack Smith
During the investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot, special counsel Jack Smith obtained cellphone records of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from AT&T, which later clarified its earlier statements regarding the release of these records. Although AT&T initially indicated to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley that McCarthy's records were not shared, they subsequently confirmed that a subpoena from January 2023 inadvertently led to the release of his personal cellphone records. McCarthy has publicly condemned the action, asserting that it represents an egregious overreach by the DOJ, suggesting that if it can happen to him, it could happen to anyone. This incident raises significant concerns about privacy and the legal boundaries of congressional oversight. Moving forward, McCarthy is calling for accountability for Smith's actions.
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Jack Smith sought toll records for McCarthy's and Representative Louie Gohmert's personal cell phones on January 24, 2023, as part of the January 6 investigation.
AT&T explained that the subpoena it processed did not specify that the number belonged to a member of Congress, leading to the unintentional release of McCarthy's records.
The company receives hundreds of thousands of legal demands annually, and this particular subpoena did not pertain to campaign accounts, further complicating the legal implications.
In a statement, McCarthy accused Jack Smith of breaking the law and emphasized the potential danger such actions pose to all citizens regarding government overreach.
The clarification from AT&T came after Grassley raised concerns about the previous claims regarding the sharing of McCarthy's records, demonstrating a lack of communication within the company.