Senators Sneak In a Shocking Self-Protection Payout — Retroactive to 2022
While Americans worried about another government shutdown, the U.S. Senate quietly slipped something into the spending bill that should infuriate every taxpayer. Buried in the fine print of the legislative branch funding package was a clause giving Senators the right to sue the federal government — and collect at least $500,000 per violation — if their Senate records were accessed through subpoenas or warrants.
Yes, you read that right: while the rest of us face record inflation, rising costs, and shrinking paychecks, Washington just made sure our tax dollars could be used to pay senators for being investigated.
How It Happened
The provision was reportedly added late in negotiations as part of the deal to reopen the government, led in part by Senator John Thune. Most House members — even Republicans — said they were blindsided. The section wasn’t discussed publicly, debated in committee, or mentioned in floor speeches. It simply appeared in the final package that both chambers were pressured to pass to keep the government funded.
According to Politico, Bloomberg Law, and Reuters, the clause gives senators a private right of action to sue the U.S. government if their “Senate data” was “acquired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed in violation” of the new rule. Each violation comes with a guaranteed payout of at least $500,000, plus legal fees — and here’s the kicker — it’s retroactive to January 1, 2022.
Why That Date Matters
The timing isn’t random. It lines up with the federal investigations into January 6th, where several Republican senators reportedly had their phone records subpoenaed as part of the Department of Justice’s broader inquiry. Instead of clarifying the legality of those actions, the Senate just gave itself the power to cash in if it didn’t like how investigators handled their data.
House members weren’t included in this deal — meaning senators alone get this legal safety net and potential payday. Representative Mike Kelly, whose records were also seized, wouldn’t be covered under the same protection.
Even some House Republicans have called the move a “cash grab” and “self-dealing.”
The Real Insult: Taxpayers Foot the Bill
If a senator wins such a lawsuit, it’s not paid by the DOJ or the FBI. It’s paid by you and me — the taxpayers. We’re the ones on the hook for potentially millions of dollars in damages because Washington wants to shield its own members from scrutiny.
Imagine that: the same people responsible for oversight and accountability just passed a law to profit from being investigated.
Where Things Stand
The backlash has been fierce. House leadership has already signaled plans to vote on a measure stripping out the provision. But whether that happens before senators start filing claims remains to be seen. In the meantime, every American should ask a simple question:
If they’re confident they did nothing wrong, why do they need immunity and a payout?
Transparency shouldn’t be negotiable — and it certainly shouldn’t come with a $500,000 price tag per senator.
Sources:
Politico, Bloomberg Law, Reuters, Newsweek, Roll Call, ABC News
