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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSpending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
NYT - Gift LinkA spending package expected to be approved as part of a deal to reopen the government would create a wide legal avenue for senators to sue for as much as half a million dollars each when federal investigators search their phone records without notifying them.
The provision, tucked into a measure to fund the legislative branch, appears to immediately allow for eight G.O.P. senators to sue the government over their phone records being seized in the course of the investigation by Jack Smith, the former special counsel, into the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The provision would make it a violation of the law to not notify a senator if their phone records or other metadata was taken from a service provider like a phone company. There are some exceptions, such as 60-day delays in notification if the senator is considered the target of an investigation.
The language of the bill states that any senator whose Senate data, or the Senate data of whose Senate office, has been acquired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed in violation of this section may bring a civil action against the United States if the violation was committed by an officer, employee, or agent of the United States or of any federal department or agency.
Because the provision is retroactive to 2022, it would appear to make eligible the eight lawmakers whose phone records were subpoenaed by investigators for Mr. Smith as he examined efforts by Donald J. Trump to obstruct the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The provision, tucked into a measure to fund the legislative branch, appears to immediately allow for eight G.O.P. senators to sue the government over their phone records being seized in the course of the investigation by Jack Smith, the former special counsel, into the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The provision would make it a violation of the law to not notify a senator if their phone records or other metadata was taken from a service provider like a phone company. There are some exceptions, such as 60-day delays in notification if the senator is considered the target of an investigation.
The language of the bill states that any senator whose Senate data, or the Senate data of whose Senate office, has been acquired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed in violation of this section may bring a civil action against the United States if the violation was committed by an officer, employee, or agent of the United States or of any federal department or agency.
Because the provision is retroactive to 2022, it would appear to make eligible the eight lawmakers whose phone records were subpoenaed by investigators for Mr. Smith as he examined efforts by Donald J. Trump to obstruct the results of the 2020 presidential election.
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Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches (Original Post)
In It to Win It
Monday
OP
MaddowBlog-Republicans use spending bill to empower themselves to sue over phone records searches
LetMyPeopleVote
Tuesday
#1
Incredible Senate-ing here as senators make this applicable just to them, not House members
LetMyPeopleVote
Tuesday
#2
LetMyPeopleVote
(172,486 posts)1. MaddowBlog-Republicans use spending bill to empower themselves to sue over phone records searches
GOP senators are no longer just whining about Arctic Frost, theyre now giving themselves the ability to file civil lawsuits over the faux controversy.
When the facts arenât in your favor ⦠replace the facts with lies.
— @jimrissmiller.bsky.social 2025-11-11T20:13:01.063Z
Republicans use spending bill to empower themselves to sue over phone records searches www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republicans-use-spending-bill-empower-sue-phone-records-searches-rcna243199
But as the process moves forward, the public is still learning more about some of the key details that were included in the bill. The New York Times reported, for example, on a provocative provision that GOP members tucked into the package.
The Times report added that this element, which is now likely to become law, would require federal investigators to notify senators about phone records searches, except in instances in which members are themselves a target of an investigation.
The provision is retroactive to 2022, the Times noted......
The New York Times reported in early October, The analysis of phone toll records is a common investigative tactic. ... Such toll record information does not include the contents of conversations, which would require a court-approved wiretap.
A related analysis from CNN explained that there was nothing especially surprising about any of this.
MSNBCs Ken Dilanian emphasized a related point, noting that the former special counsels final report, released earlier this year, made note of these same toll records.
A spending package expected to be approved as part of a deal to reopen the government would create a wide legal avenue for senators to sue for as much as half a million dollars each when federal investigators search their phone records without notifying them. The provision ... appears to immediately allow for eight G.O.P. senators to sue the government over their phone records being seized in the course of the investigation by Jack Smith, the former special counsel, into the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The Times report added that this element, which is now likely to become law, would require federal investigators to notify senators about phone records searches, except in instances in which members are themselves a target of an investigation.
The provision is retroactive to 2022, the Times noted......
The New York Times reported in early October, The analysis of phone toll records is a common investigative tactic. ... Such toll record information does not include the contents of conversations, which would require a court-approved wiretap.
A related analysis from CNN explained that there was nothing especially surprising about any of this.
We already knew that the phone records of some lawmakers were seized in Smiths probe, because the Justice Department had to overcome legal hurdles posed by the Constitutions Speech or Debate Clause. And its difficult to understand how Smith ever could have conducted such a probe without obtaining some phone records of lawmakers. Thats because Trumps pressure on lawmakers was a key part of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. ... It would seem very difficult to piece together a case without understanding who was talking to whom, and when.
MSNBCs Ken Dilanian emphasized a related point, noting that the former special counsels final report, released earlier this year, made note of these same toll records.
LetMyPeopleVote
(172,486 posts)2. Incredible Senate-ing here as senators make this applicable just to them, not House members
LetMyPeopleVote
(172,486 posts)3. Chip Roy wants this provision stripped from bill
Link to tweet
?s=20
