Legislation expected to pass as part of the government reopening deal includes a provision enabling senators to file lawsuits worth up to $500,000 each when federal investigators obtain their phone records without notification. The measure applies retroactively to 2022 and appears designed to benefit eight Republican senators whose metadata was subpoenaed during former special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into January 6 Capitol riot obstruction efforts.
The senators affected include Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, and Cynthia Lummis. Smith's team defended the tactic as a legitimate investigative procedure targeting Donald Trump's inner circle rather than lawmakers themselves, though Republicans characterized it as inappropriate surveillance.
Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden criticized the hidden provision as an improper taxpayer-funded windfall for Republican senators who assisted Trump's election overturn attempts, while acknowledging Americans deserve notification about government surveillance activities.
The senators affected include Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, and Cynthia Lummis. Smith's team defended the tactic as a legitimate investigative procedure targeting Donald Trump's inner circle rather than lawmakers themselves, though Republicans characterized it as inappropriate surveillance.
Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden criticized the hidden provision as an improper taxpayer-funded windfall for Republican senators who assisted Trump's election overturn attempts, while acknowledging Americans deserve notification about government surveillance activities.
