GOP Senators Grill Cell Phone Companies Over Secret Jan. 6 Subpoenas

Lawmakers question carriers' compliance with court orders to turn over some Senators' toll records as part of Capitol attack probe.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In a Senate hearing, Republican lawmakers including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) pressed attorneys for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile over their response to subpoenas for phone records of several U.S. Senators as part of the federal investigation into the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The carriers argued they had no choice but to comply with the court-approved subpoenas, though they acknowledged their processes could have been better suited to handle such sensitive requests involving members of Congress.

Why it matters

The seizure of Senators' phone records without their knowledge has raised concerns among Republicans about government overreach and potential violations of the Speech and Debate Clause, which provides certain protections for members of Congress. The hearing highlighted the tensions between law enforcement's investigative needs and lawmakers' privacy rights.

The details

During the hearing, Senators questioned the cell phone company representatives about their compliance with subpoenas for toll records - including call logs and call durations, but not the actual content of calls or messages. The carriers said they had no process at the time to identify that the subpoenaed numbers belonged to members of Congress, and were bound by nondisclosure agreements that prevented them from notifying the affected Senators. Republicans argued the subpoenas and nondisclosure orders violated the Constitution's Speech and Debate Clause, while the former federal prosecutor who testified said such record collection is routine in criminal investigations.

  • The subpoenas for the Senators' phone records were issued in May 2023 as part of the federal investigation into the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
  • The Senate hearing took place on February 10, 2026.

The players

Sen. Marsha Blackburn

A Republican Senator from Tennessee whose phone records were seized as part of the Jan. 6 investigation, which she has called an "invasion of privacy" and the "worst weaponization of government" in U.S. history.

Chris Miller

The general counsel for Verizon, who testified that the company did not have a process at the time to identify that the subpoenaed phone numbers belonged to members of Congress.

Mike Romano

The former Deputy Chief of the Capitol Siege Section, who testified that the collection of toll records is routine in criminal investigations and does not include the content of communications.

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What they’re saying

“These hearings will serve as a form of discovery for the committee as we continue to document and enter into the record all the facts surrounding the Arctic Frost witch hunt.”

— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (WATE)

“Chairman Blackburn, we should have had a better process to address this situation.”

— Chris Miller, General Counsel, Verizon (WATE)

“No matter who is the subject of a subpoena, Verizon cannot ignore a valid legal demand or a court order, but our processes could have been better suited to meet what was a new and unique set of circumstances for us and for other companies.”

— Chris Miller, General Counsel, Verizon (WATE)

What’s next

The Senate committee plans to send additional written questions to the witnesses, who are required to respond.

The takeaway

This hearing highlighted the tensions between law enforcement's investigative needs and the privacy rights of members of Congress, raising questions about the appropriate balance and oversight when it comes to accessing the phone records of elected officials.