Documents obtained by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley are raising new questions about how federal investigators handled allegations against several Republican members of Congress in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
According to the records, the FBI moved forward with an inquiry—known as “Operation Rampart 12”—even as some Justice Department prosecutors privately expressed doubts about the credibility of key claims. The investigation was launched in January 2021 and focused on whether any Republican lawmakers may have assisted individuals connected to the events of Jan. 6.
The probe was based in part on statements from then-Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat from New Jersey, who publicly suggested that some members of Congress may have conducted “reconnaissance” tours of the Capitol ahead of the attack. Her comments, along with a letter signed by more than 30 Democrats requesting information about “suspicious” activity on Jan. 5, helped prompt further scrutiny.
Internal communications included in the documents show that at least two federal prosecutors questioned those allegations early on. In text messages exchanged in mid-January 2021, one prosecutor described Sherrill’s handling of the situation as “embarrassing” and said her claims undermined their credibility. Another message reflected a broader sense of frustration, with one official writing that they felt disillusioned with politicians.
Despite those concerns, the investigation proceeded. It examined allegations involving several Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar, and Andy Biggs, as well as then-Rep. Mo Brooks. As part of the inquiry, investigators obtained phone records for at least some of those members.
The records also show that investigators reviewed surveillance footage and other evidence but did not always find clear signs of wrongdoing. In one exchange, a prosecutor noted that a group seen near Boebert in the Capitol appeared to be a family and did not seem suspicious.
Even so, there was internal discussion about whether the broader theory—that information about the Capitol could have been shared with outside groups—might still hold up, even if proving intent would be difficult.
The preliminary investigation was formally opened on Jan. 22, 2021. At the time, officials determined that rules governing politically sensitive investigations tied to elections did not apply, since the lawmakers involved were not facing imminent federal elections.
The inquiry continued through much of 2021, though it did not ultimately result in charges against the members of Congress involved. By early 2022, FBI leadership directed that the case be closed.
Grassley and several Republican lawmakers have pointed to the documents as evidence of what they describe as politically motivated investigative decisions. They argue the probe continued despite weak supporting evidence. Democrats have not broadly responded to these specific claims in the materials released so far.
The issue is also tied to a wider set of investigations related to Jan. 6 and the 2020 election. Separate records previously released by Grassley show that phone data from multiple Republican lawmakers was obtained as part of another inquiry led by special counsel Jack Smith.
Grassley is expected to discuss the newly released documents in more detail during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where questions about oversight, investigative standards, and political sensitivity are likely to be central themes.
