Sen. Josh Hawley is sounding the alarm over what he sees as a blatant misuse of power by the Biden administration against conservative voices.

Hawley is pushing for a special counsel to dig deep into claims that the Justice Department has been weaponized to silence dissent, including through a shadowy Biden-era operation dubbed "Arctic Frost" that allegedly targeted Republican lawmakers, as Townhall.com reports.

Let’s rewind to 2022, when reports first surfaced about "Arctic Frost," a surveillance effort reportedly cooked up by the FBI and DOJ to keep tabs on Republican officials.

Uncovering a surveillance operation

This operation didn’t just stop at vague suspicions -- it allegedly led to the seizure of government-issued cellphones once used by President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, tied to a probe into the 2020 election’s aftermath.

Even more eyebrow-raising, communications of prominent senators like Hawley himself, Lindsey Graham, and Ron Johnson were reportedly under the microscope during this operation.

Now, if that doesn’t smell like overreach, what does? It’s one thing to investigate; it’s another to seemingly cherry-pick political opponents for scrutiny.

Hawley demands special counsel probe

Fast forward to a congressional hearing on Tuesday, where Hawley didn’t mince words while grilling Attorney General Pam Bondi on the need for answers.

He’s not just asking for a polite inquiry -- he’s demanding a special prosecutor to uncover the full scope of this alleged abuse. As Hawley put it, “We need a special prosecutor to be appointed whose sole responsibility is to get to the bottom of what has happened.”

Well, senator, that’s a bold ask, but when you’ve got claims of wiretaps on U.S. legislators, it’s hard to argue against a thorough look. If true, this isn’t just a policy disagreement; it’s a potential erosion of trust in our institutions.

Questions swirl around DOJ, FBI roles

Hawley also zeroed in on specifics, pressing for details on who greenlit these alleged wiretaps and which agents at the DOJ or FBI were involved.

This isn’t idle curiosity -- knowing who pulled the strings could reveal whether this was a rogue operation or something sanctioned from on high. The public deserves clarity, not cloak-and-dagger excuses.

Support grows for investigation push

Adding fuel to the fire, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino didn’t hold back during his own Capitol Hill appearance, slamming the surveillance as a shameful misuse of power. He stated, “It is a disgrace that I have to stand on Capitol Hill and reveal this -- that the FBI was once weaponized to track the private communications of US lawmakers for political purposes.”

Bongino’s words hit like a sledgehammer, and frankly, they should. If even insiders are calling foul, it’s a sign the rot might run deeper than a few bad apples -- it could point to a systemic tilt against dissenting voices.

While some might wave this off as partisan posturing, the stakes here are bigger than political points. When government tools are allegedly turned on elected officials for their views, it’s not just conservatives who should worry -- it’s every American who values free speech. Let’s hope this call for a special counsel isn’t just a shout into the void, but the start of real accountability.