This is so perfectly Republican.
Republican senators have slipped a provision into the Continuing Resolution bill to re-open government, that forbids the DOJ or Judicial branch from subpoenas targeting their phone records. The Senate will be protected from abuses to the 4th amendment, but you and me – no such luck.
Additionally, as further evidence to the structural priorities of the professional Republicans, if the legislative provision is violated, each instance of violation will result in a $500,000 payment to the senator. Go figure.
WASHINGTON DC – Senate Republicans secured a provision in the bipartisan, shutdown-ending government funding package that could award senators hundreds of thousands of dollars for having their phone records collected without their knowledge as part of a Biden-era investigation.
[…] It was tucked into the legislative branch spending measure for fiscal year 2026, part of a three-bill “minibus” of appropriations measures that Senators were set to vote on Monday night alongside a continuing resolution to fund the government through Jan. 30. The House is expected to clear the package for President Donald Trump’s signature as early as Wednesday.
[…] The provision states that electronic services providers must notify a Senate office if the provider receives a request to disclose the data from that senator, or senator’s office. Moreover, the legislative language stipulates that the provider cannot be barred from notifying the senate office under a court order, though that notification may be delayed in the event the senator in question is under criminal investigation.
[…] This portion of the legislative branch appropriations bill also appears to provide a cash bonus for those Senators who were targeted by Smith’s probe. If the provision included in the bill is violated, the Senator can sue the federal government, and if the lawmaker succeeds in the case, the person will be awarded $500,000 or more for each violation by the government. (read more)
Don’t forget, in the last FISA-702 reauthorization, Congress also forbade any member of the legislative branch from being subject to the illegal use of the NSA surveillance system.
Congress is exempt from the FISA abuse they authorize on Americans, and Congress is exempt from subpoenas against their phone records that are authorized against Americans.
Seriously folks, we just cannot make this stuff up.
“Line item veto!” or change the language FROM: Senator or Representative, TO: American CITIZEN
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
I wonder if the Supreme Court would ever hold that all such laws violate the founding principals of the American revolution, and that new government should be instituted.
Just asking in the name of the blood of patriots.
Oh how I wish we would get to this point before all of us lose everything.
As a parting shot, they should have subpoenaed all the other Senators phones FIRST – then put the provision in.
That is what I would have done as General.
Likely not constitutional and kinda dumb given all the communists, terrorists, and criminals being elected.
Guess there are classes of citizens and we ain’t in the first class.
Largess for me, but none for thee, was heard throughout the capitol’s once hallowed halls…………………
And, then they wonder why their constituents hate them.
The only rationale for the Senators to do this is that they may be complicit with the Democrats in the treasonous actvities perpetrated against POTUS Trump. If they really want to protect themselves then eliminate the Patriot Act and the FISA Court. Otherwise, they cannot carve out a special adendum to the Fourth Amendment while ignoring what the deep state did to everyone who attended the J6 ralley. POTUS Trump needs to send it back to the Senate saying this has nothing to do with the budget, but gives you special protections not afforded to the US citizen.
Which pretty much says they got a lot to hide.