Deal to end US shutdown would also allow some Republican senators to seek $500,000 for January 6 probe

Reuters.com ^ | 11/11/2025 03:37 PM CST | David Shepardson

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Legislation moving through Congress that would end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history would also allow eight Republican senators to seek hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages for alleged privacy violations stemming from the Biden administration's investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The bill, which passed the Senate on Monday, includes a clause that would allow lawmakers whose phone records were subpoenaed as part of that probe to sue the Justice Department for damages.

Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here.

Report Ad

The legislation retroactively makes it illegal in most cases to obtain a senator's phone data without disclosure, and allows those whose records were obtained to sue the Justice Department for $500,000 per violation, along with attorneys' fees and costs. The Justice Department could opt to settle the lawsuits, rather than fight them in court.

"We will not rest until justice is served and those who were involved in this weaponization of government are held accountable," Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, one of those whose records were seized, said in a statement.

Blackburn and the other seven senators - Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis - all voted for the bill.

Democrats said the bill allows certain Republicans to get hefty payouts from U.S. taxpayers.

"Not a cent for health care, but Republicans wrote in a corrupt cash bonus of at least $500k each," Democratic Senator Patty Murray wrote on social media.

The records were part of Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into President Donald Trump’s effort to overturn his loss of the 2020 election to his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.

Trump was charged in the case but it did not go to trial,...

---

TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: davidshepardson; enemyjournalist; reuters; reuterssedition

[redinIllinois]

.

[UCANSEE2]

This is about proving in a court of law that the Democrat machine was committing crimes.

So... the Republican Senators are going to sue the DOJ by taking the DOJ to Court which is a part of the DOJ and dominated by left-wing/liberal/crooked/traitorous/anti-American Judges of questionable citizenship by proving that the Democrats, whom they owe their job to, were committing crimes by spying on them ?

If the Senators keep their promise, and win, that would be great. Because you are correct. Which is why they will fight this at all cost (to us the taxpayers).

[dforest]

I would prefer compensation and future laws for the protection of everyday Americans who were wrongfully spied upon, mistreated and railroaded by the justice system. Many imprisoned, tortured, abused, denied medical care, covid vaccinated against their will, bankrupted and some ending up divorced, homeless, or dead.

I remember January 6th with most of those varmints in Congress squealing and running to hide like the cowards most
of them were.

I always notice that they make laws to protect, shield, and compensate themselves, but never extend that to the people.

Other than that, maybe it is useful. It is useful for RATs too.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I would prefer compensation and future laws for the protection of everyday Americans who were wrongfully spied upon, mistreated and railroaded by the justice system.

So, exactly how you are you going to implement your "preference?"

You are obviously someone whose "preference" carries a lot of weight.

Personally, I just want to see people go to jail as soon as possible, and this is an avenue that has been opened.

[utahb52]

Kind of like what Nixon did? Republicans need to push that point while campaigning.