Listen to the article
Tennessee Senator Files FCC Complaint Against Verizon Over DOJ Data Disclosure
Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission on Monday against Verizon, accusing the telecommunications giant of improperly handing over his phone records to the Department of Justice during its investigation of former President Donald Trump and the 2020 election.
In the complaint, reviewed by Fox News Digital, Hagerty’s legal team demanded that Verizon publicly acknowledge wrongdoing and discipline employees who complied with subpoenas for his phone data. If the company fails to take these steps, the complaint urges the FCC to declare Verizon violated federal law and appoint an independent monitor to oversee the company’s operations.
“Such discipline by the FCC would send a clear message that companies cannot collude with politically motivated prosecutors to violate customers’ rights,” Hagerty’s lawyers wrote. “Verizon is not above the law.”
The controversy stems from former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation, during which his team obtained phone records of Hagerty and several other Republican senators. This move has sparked significant backlash from GOP lawmakers who argue it violated the Constitution’s speech or debate clause, which provides members of Congress special protections in prosecutorial matters.
Verizon defended its actions in a letter to the Senate last fall, stating the subpoenas appeared “facially valid” and only requested phone numbers without identifying subscribers or providing details about Smith’s investigation. The company claimed it did not notify the senators about the subpoenas because they included court-authorized gag orders prohibiting such disclosure.
Smith has consistently defended the subpoenas, maintaining they were handled in accordance with Department of Justice policy at the time. That policy has since been revised to require prosecutors to notify courts when gag orders involve members of Congress—a requirement that didn’t exist during Smith’s investigation, which prevented the senators from challenging the subpoenas.
The telecommunications privacy issue has become a flashpoint in Congress. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who was also targeted in Smith’s probe, previously backed a controversial provision in a government spending bill that would have allowed senators to bring civil lawsuits worth up to $500,000 against the DOJ for such actions. The provision faced significant opposition due to concerns it could enable senators to enrich themselves, and the House ultimately voted unanimously to repeal it.
Hagerty’s complaint comes at a politically charged moment, arriving just one day before fellow Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, who was also subjected to similar data collection, is scheduled to chair a Senate hearing titled “Arctic Frost Accountability.” Executives from Verizon and AT&T are expected to testify at the hearing.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between telecommunications providers, law enforcement agencies, and lawmakers over data privacy and constitutional protections. It raises significant questions about the responsibilities of private companies when receiving government requests for sensitive data, particularly when those requests involve elected officials.
As the digital privacy landscape continues to evolve, this case could establish important precedents for how telecommunications companies should respond to law enforcement requests that potentially infringe on constitutional protections. The outcome may influence future policies regarding government access to communications data and the safeguards necessary when investigating members of Congress.
Neither the FCC nor Verizon has publicly responded to Hagerty’s complaint as of press time.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
29 Comments
As a longtime Verizon customer, I’m disappointed to see these allegations. The company needs to be fully transparent about its policies and procedures for handling law enforcement data requests.
I agree. Verizon owes its customers a clear explanation of what happened and what steps it’s taking to prevent similar issues in the future.
As a shareholder in Verizon, I’m concerned about the potential legal and reputational risks the company faces if these allegations are true. The FCC needs to get to the bottom of this quickly.
I agree, Verizon’s handling of this could have significant financial implications. The FCC has to send a clear message that protecting customer privacy is paramount.
It’s troubling to see reports of the government potentially overstepping its bounds and obtaining private phone records. The FCC should look closely at this case to uphold the privacy rights of citizens and elected officials.
Absolutely. Protecting individual privacy is a core responsibility for telecom providers. The FCC must take strong action if Verizon is found to have violated the law.
This is concerning if true. Senators should have their privacy protected, even during investigations. The FCC needs to thoroughly investigate Verizon’s actions and hold them accountable if they violated the law or their customers’ rights.
Agreed. The FCC should take this complaint seriously and ensure proper safeguards are in place to prevent abuse of customer data, regardless of political affiliation.
It’s troubling to see allegations of telecommunications companies potentially colluding with authorities to violate customer privacy. The FCC must conduct a thorough, impartial investigation into this matter.
Precisely. Customers put their trust in telecom providers, and any breach of that trust must be taken seriously and addressed swiftly.
This is an important test case for how telecom providers handle law enforcement requests for customer data. The FCC’s response will set an important precedent going forward.
This is a complex issue that requires a balanced approach. The FCC should investigate the allegations thoroughly and ensure that any violations of customer privacy are addressed, while also respecting the need for legitimate law enforcement activities.
Agreed. Maintaining a fair and transparent process is crucial in order to uphold the public’s trust in both the telecom industry and the government.
This is a complex issue that touches on important questions around the balance between law enforcement, civil liberties, and corporate responsibility. I’ll be following this case closely to see how it unfolds.
Good point. There are valid arguments on both sides that the FCC will need to carefully weigh. Transparency and due process should be the guiding principles.
The alleged actions by Verizon, if true, are very troubling. Senators should be able to expect their communications to remain private unless there is a clear and lawful reason to access them.
Absolutely. The FCC needs to ensure telecom companies put customer privacy first and only comply with data requests that are legally justified.
While investigations must be allowed to proceed, the privacy rights of citizens, including elected officials, must be protected. The FCC should carefully review the facts and determine if Verizon acted improperly.
Well said. The public deserves to know that their personal data is being safeguarded, regardless of the parties involved.
This seems like a clear violation of privacy rights. The FCC should take strong action against Verizon if the facts bear out the allegations made by Senator Hagerty.
Misuse of customer phone records is a serious breach of trust. The FCC should look into this matter quickly and impartially to determine if Verizon acted improperly. Transparency and accountability are crucial in these situations.
Absolutely. Verizon needs to explain their actions and demonstrate they have strong data privacy protocols in place to prevent this from happening again.
This is a concerning development. Senators’ phone records shouldn’t be handed over without proper legal justification. I hope the FCC investigates Verizon’s actions thoroughly to ensure they are protecting customer privacy rights.
Agreed. Telecommunications companies need to be held accountable if they’re inappropriately sharing customer data with authorities. Transparency and due process are crucial.
As a citizen, I’m concerned about the implications of this case for individual privacy rights more broadly. The FCC’s response will set an important precedent.
This raises important questions about the boundaries between law enforcement investigations and individual privacy rights. The FCC should carefully examine the details and ensure proper procedures were followed.
Agreed. The public deserves to know if Verizon overstepped its authority in sharing customer data, regardless of the political context.
Protecting the privacy of elected officials’ communications is crucial for maintaining trust in our democratic institutions. The FCC must hold Verizon accountable if it failed in this regard.
Well said. The FCC has an important responsibility to ensure telecom companies uphold high standards of ethics and customer privacy, especially when it comes to sensitive government data.