FBI surveilled Rep. Scott Perry before seizing his cell phone as part of ‘Arctic Frost’ probe into 2020 election

WASHINGTON — The FBI surveilled Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) at his congressional office and private residence roughly a month before seizing his cell phone and demanding information for a sprawling probe into 2020 election interference, unclassified records reviewed by The Post show.

The files — which are part of a probe known as “Arctic Frost” that targeted nearly 100 Republican-aligned entities in the wake of President Trump’s electoral loss — show that Perry was trailed by bureau agents in July and August 2022.

“Goal from surveillance is to get a pattern of life, identify his vehicle, and possibly identify a location to serve him with a SW [seizure warrant],” one of the FBI’s documents stated.

Agents watched for Perry and took log notes on July 25 at his home “just south of Harrisburg,” Pennsylvania and at two workplaces in Washington, DC, other documents showed, while on Aug. 4, the congressman was surveilled at a “recreation center” in the nation’s capital.

The records were first obtained by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as part of his oversight of the Arctic Frost probe, referred to in the newly uncovered FBI files as a “sensitive election law investigation.”

“Why were apparently undercover FBI agents surveilling Rep. Perry while representing his constituents at the US Capitol?” asked Russell Dye, a spokesman for Jordan, calling it “a glaring separation-of-powers concern.”

“Was this something approved by Speaker Pelosi? Was it approved by the Democrat’s sham January 6th Committee? Should other Members be concerned that they were being watched for carrying out their constitutional duties?” he added.

The Office of Congressional Affairs was notified of the FBI wanting to conduct an interview with Perry, per the documents.

Five days after the last surveillance date, the FBI executed its warrant while Perry was on vacation in New Jersey on Aug. 9 during the congressional recess.

They had planned to surreptitiously record an interview with him the same date — just one day after agents raided President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla.

“They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish,” Perry said in a statement to Fox News at the time.

“I’m outraged — though not surprised — that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garland’s DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress,” he added.

“My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. None of this is the government’s business.”

At the time, Perry served as chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and had declined to voluntarily meet with members of the Jan. 6 House select committee investigating the 2021 Capitol riot.

Arctic Frost targeted specifically in Pennsylvania efforts to install a slate of 20 electors who would falsely cast their ballots for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, rather Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

The FBI documents alleged the scheme had been solicited by the Trump campaign, and Perry supposedly introduced then-assistant attorney general Jeffrey Clark to Trump in an attempt to elevate the DOJ official to acting attorney general following the departure of AG Bill Barr.

The FBI had also found that Perry texted with members of the Pennsylvania legislature who drafted a Dec. 30, 2020, letter asking for then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to “dispute the certification” of the election.

Reps for Perry’s office and the FBI didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.