So not only did Democrats surrender all of their leverage at a moment when their political capital was at its highest in the wake of last week’s total blowout and got precisely nothing in return, it turns out that the Republicans got to tack on a few sweeteners of their own into this deal.
Thune secures provision in government funding bill letting senators sue for phone records seizure
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.
And as the New York Times reports, the provision is retroactive to 2022
Because the provision is retroactive to 2022, it would appear to make eligible the eight lawmakers whose phone records were subpoenaed by investigators for Mr. Smith as he examined efforts by Donald J. Trump to obstruct the results of the 2020 presidential election.
By the way, those Republican Senators targeted by Jack Smith are widely believed to be Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis and Marsha Blackburn.
According to Ted Cruz, "It was intentional... likely went to the very highest levels of the administration — demonstrating utter contempt for the Constitution… and there should be the broadest possible investigations and accountability."
No, he wasn’t talking about masked federal agents assaulting Chicago apartment buildings in Black Hawk helicopters, pulling children from their beds and zip tying their hands together. Not the shooting of an American citizen by ICE agents for the crime of attempting to warn the agents that children would soon be gathering at a nearby school bus stop. Not the illegal recissions targeting pediatric cancer research. And not the violation of war powers by murdering fisherman in the Caribbean as Trump attempts to instigate a regime change war with Venezuela. No, this smarmy asshole Ted Cruz thinks the biggest abuse of power taking place in recent years is the execution of a valid subpoena that went before a judge, with all of the protections for his civil liberties that entails.
Second, the unmitigated gall of these Republicans to reach into the American taxpayer’s pocket to personally enrich themselves while Americans literally wait in bread lines as SNAP benefits wear off. At a time when government workers are getting zero dollar paychecks, the top priority for Thune was to secure a reward of hundreds of thousands of dollars for participating in an attempt to overturn an election.
Lastly, to Schumer and the 8 rotating villain Democrats that caved on this bill and not only got nothing in return, but gave the 8 collaborators with Trump’s insurrection an added bonus: you got played. There’s an old saying often attributed to Paul Newman but probably "If you're playing a poker game and you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you." You held all of the cards and not only walked away from the table, but gave them your lunch money, watch, and shoes, to boot. You are not equipped to meet this moment. Do us all a favor and resign now.
