Republican Senators Seeking $500,000 Each in Damages Over Capitol Riot Investigation Records

A file photo of the US Capitol building.

Washington:

Recent congressional legislation that would terminate the longest government shutdown in American history contains a provision enabling eight Republican senators to pursue substantial financial damages for alleged privacy violations related to the Biden administration's investigation of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The legislation, which received Senate approval on Monday, includes a specific clause permitting lawmakers whose telephone records were subpoenaed during the investigation to file lawsuits against the Justice Department for damages.

This bill retroactively prohibits obtaining a senator's telephone data without disclosure in most circumstances, and authorizes affected individuals to sue the Justice Department for $500,000 per violation, plus attorneys' fees and associated costs. The Justice Department maintains the option to resolve these lawsuits through settlements rather than court proceedings.

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"We will not rest until justice is served and those who were involved in this weaponization of government are held accountable," stated Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, one of the individuals whose records were obtained.

Blackburn and seven other senators - Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, and Cynthia Lummis - all supported the legislation with their votes.

Democrats criticized the bill, arguing it allows certain Republicans to receive substantial payouts funded by American taxpayers.

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

The records in question were part of Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election to Democratic opponent Joe Biden.

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Trump faced charges in this case, but it never proceeded to trial due to numerous legal challenges causing delays.

Smith ultimately dismissed the case following Trump's victory in the 2024 election, citing longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. He released a report stating that the evidence collected would have been sufficient to secure a conviction against Trump at trial.

Senators have requested detailed information from telecommunications companies AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile regarding the extent of data they provided under the subpoenas.