FBI Director Kash Patel has revealed that former FBI officials created a self-awarded trophy commemorating Operation Arctic Frost, an investigation launched after the 2020 election targeting President Donald Trump and his allies. The trophy features “AF” with a lightning bolt and dollar sign along its body and a raised map of the United States on its base, including miniature buildings and infrastructure. It bears the designation “CR-15” printed along the base—a reference to an FBI unit disbanded in 2021 that conducted targeted surveillance operations.
Patel stated the trophy was produced by former agents from CR-15, the unit responsible for Operation Arctic Frost. The investigation focused on hundreds of Republican and conservative organizations, gathering private communications to build what critics describe as a political enemies list. The map on the trophy highlights states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada—regions where individuals raised concerns about the 2020 election results—without indicating areas where federal agents apprehended terrorists or disrupted criminal activities.
Patel confirmed the trophy was created by former FBI officials as evidence of their internal satisfaction with Operation Arctic Frost’s outcomes. He described the operation as politically motivated and funded by taxpayers rather than a standard law enforcement initiative.
