UPDATE: A controversial proposal allowing Senate Republicans to sue the government for compensation over phone records collected during the January 6, 2021 investigation has sparked outrage, prompting a swift response from lawmakers. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) slammed the provision, describing it as “stinks like sh––,” and vowing to take action to eliminate it before the upcoming Thanksgiving recess.
The measure, pushed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), surfaced in a bill aimed at reopening the government after a record-setting shutdown. Under this provision, senators affected by the phone record collection during Special Counsel Jack Smith‘s investigation could claim payouts of over $500,000 each. This alarming development has raised serious concerns about legislative ethics and accountability.
“We’re talking about millions of dollars for just eight senators,” Luján asserted, emphasizing the potential financial burden this could place on taxpayers. “It’s stinky. There’s a reason the House Republicans moved so quickly to repeal this garbage.”
Last week, the House voted unanimously to reject the provision, signaling bipartisan discontent with the Senate’s actions. Luján commended the House for its swift response and highlighted Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) for introducing legislation to eliminate the payout.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), one of the senators implicated in the investigation, defended the measure, claiming it was necessary to protect senators from what he called “the worst single instance of politicization” by the Biden administration. He likened the situation to “Joe Biden’s Watergate,” arguing for the importance of maintaining the separation of powers.
However, the backlash has been palpable. “It’s outrageous that people would put into the bill essentially a check for themselves for up to $500,000,” remarked Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), urging colleagues to take immediate action against the provision.
Republican senators are now reportedly divided on how to amend the rejected measure. While some, like Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), expressed surprise at the inclusion of the provision, she noted that discussions would take place next week to address the backlash. “I think the leaders even said, you know, maybe the process of doing it was not the best,” Capito acknowledged.
The urgency of the situation is clear. As lawmakers prepare for the Thanksgiving break, the Senate must act quickly to avoid further discontent among constituents. With bipartisan calls for accountability growing louder, the fate of this controversial payout provision hangs in the balance.
As the political landscape shifts, all eyes will be on Capitol Hill to see if the Senate can come together to reject what many are calling an ethically dubious incentive. The implications for public trust in government are immense, and the pressure is on for politicians to act decisively.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the debate unfolds in the coming days.
