A new provision in the bill to end the government shutdown would grant senators a powerful tool: suing the US government for up to $500,000 if their data is seized or subpoenaed without proper notification. The measure aims to curb what lawmakers claim was an unconstitutional breach of trust by the Biden administration.
Under the new legislation, senators can bring civil actions against the US if their Senate data is accessed or disclosed in violation of the notification provisions. This could include steps taken during special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into President Trump's alleged attempts to pressure senators into delaying certification of President Biden's Electoral College victory.
The law requires service providers to alert Senate offices and the sergeant at arms if federal law enforcement requests senators' data, with court orders preventing delays unless a senator is under criminal investigation. The government faces potential damages of $500,000 for each violation, which could be significant given that the FBI analyzed senators' call records in 2023 – potentially giving lawmakers grounds to sue.
GOP senators have already expressed outrage over their phone records being obtained by the FBI without proper notification. Senator Chuck Grassley described the actions as an "unconstitutional breach" and claimed the Biden administration was "weaponizing the Justice Department." The measure could provide a significant check on government power, particularly if Republicans continue to push for investigations into the Jan 6 attack.
The new legislation has sparked controversy over who will be eligible to sue and under what circumstances. While senators are entitled to $500,000 for each violation, they also face limitations on when and how they can file suit. The law allows for suits up to five years after a senator is first made aware of a violation, but the government may argue that certain limitations should apply.
The provision has been praised by some as a necessary measure to protect senators' rights, while others have raised concerns about its potential implications for future investigations and government operations. As lawmakers continue to debate the bill, one thing is clear: the fallout from the FBI's actions in 2023 could be significant – both for senators who were affected and for the broader US political landscape.
Under the new legislation, senators can bring civil actions against the US if their Senate data is accessed or disclosed in violation of the notification provisions. This could include steps taken during special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into President Trump's alleged attempts to pressure senators into delaying certification of President Biden's Electoral College victory.
The law requires service providers to alert Senate offices and the sergeant at arms if federal law enforcement requests senators' data, with court orders preventing delays unless a senator is under criminal investigation. The government faces potential damages of $500,000 for each violation, which could be significant given that the FBI analyzed senators' call records in 2023 – potentially giving lawmakers grounds to sue.
GOP senators have already expressed outrage over their phone records being obtained by the FBI without proper notification. Senator Chuck Grassley described the actions as an "unconstitutional breach" and claimed the Biden administration was "weaponizing the Justice Department." The measure could provide a significant check on government power, particularly if Republicans continue to push for investigations into the Jan 6 attack.
The new legislation has sparked controversy over who will be eligible to sue and under what circumstances. While senators are entitled to $500,000 for each violation, they also face limitations on when and how they can file suit. The law allows for suits up to five years after a senator is first made aware of a violation, but the government may argue that certain limitations should apply.
The provision has been praised by some as a necessary measure to protect senators' rights, while others have raised concerns about its potential implications for future investigations and government operations. As lawmakers continue to debate the bill, one thing is clear: the fallout from the FBI's actions in 2023 could be significant – both for senators who were affected and for the broader US political landscape.
. I mean, think about it - if the gov't can just seize your data without notification, that's like a clear breach of trust. It's one thing to have some safeguards in place, but at least now senators have a way to fight back and get compensated for any violation 
. On the other hand, I'm also worried about the potential implications for future investigations. If senators can just sue the gov't over every little thing, it could slow down the justice process. But hey, balance is key, right? 
that's some serious accountability right there 
! I mean, can you imagine if your data was just taken without warning? It's a huge breach of trust and they're finally giving lawmakers a way to fight back 
. But at the same time, it's a bit shady that senators are only getting $500k for each violation... seems like a drop in the bucket compared to what they make in a year 
. And what about the limits on when and how you can sue? That just adds to the complexity of it all 
, you know? Like, if the government can just swoop in and grab your data without giving you a heads up, that's some major trust issues right there 
. And to make matters worse, they had the nerve to analyze senators' call records w/o notification... talk about a breach of trust 
. Like, if every senator can just sue the gov for $500k, that's gonna create some serious power imbalances 
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, but one thing's for sure: it's gonna be a wild ride 
can't believe we're having to pay $500k just because the gov thinks they can "play hardball" with our data 
. And good luck trying to get a lawyer to take on this case, I hear those bills add up 
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this is kinda crazy that they're offering a big chunk of change just to protect senate data... $500k is like, a lot of money 
. Like, what's next? Are we gonna give each senator a superpower to take down the government whenever they feel like it? 
. I'm all about protecting senator's rights and all, but this law is just a fancy way of giving them more ammo to play politics instead of actually doing their jobs 
. The fact that they're giving them $500k for each violation is straight fire 
, and it's gonna be super hard for the government to get away with this kind of stuff.
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. I mean, it's about time we held the executive branch accountable for their actions. The whole 'weaponizing' thing is just code for 'we're not going to play nice with each other'. It's interesting to see how GOP senators are using this provision as leverage in their investigations into the Jan 6 attack - it's a clear example of them trying to get under the Democratic administration's skin 
. And it's not like we're talking about some small-time breach here, like a pesky phishing email or something. We're talking about the government 
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. But we'll just have to wait and see how all this plays out 
A stipend to ensure our personal data isn't shared with the public? 
It's all good for the senators who are being "weaponized" but what about the rest of us just trying to live our lives without getting poked and prodded by politicians. 
I think this new provision is a total game-changer! The $500k fine is insane 
. Can't wait to see how this plays out in the Senate 
. its all about setting boundaries and holding gov't accountable for their actions. i mean, who wouldn't want to sue the gov't for up to $500k if they mess up? lol gotta love a good check on power 
like, what's next? 
It's crazy to think that lawmakers are now being given a tool to fight back against it – suing the government for up to $500k!