General Discussion

One of the most controversial provisions of the bipartisan deal to reopen the federal government is a stealth provision that could put millions of dollars of taxpayer money directly in a handful of GOP senators' pockets, and even some far-right House Republicans are going on record as being uncomfortable with it.

However, they are stopping just short of supporting Democrats' measures to strip it out of the bill.

The provision in question allows Senate Republicans who had their communications monitored as part of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation of the 2020 election coup plot to sue the federal government for up to $500,000 apiece. The fear among observers is that, aside from being improper, the Trump administration could simply settle the suits immediately and put taxpayer money straight in these senators' pockets as a reward for backing his election conspiracy theories.....

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), per the report, slammed the provision as creating the appearance that Senate Republicans are "self-serving" and "self-dealing." However, he, along with Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), doesn't support amendments to eliminate it, saying instead the best solution would be to force Senate Republicans to repeal it separately in a later bill, so that the shutdown can be resolved as fast as possible.