1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the current Senate deal to reopen the government, specifically regarding the provision that would allow senators to sue for damages if their phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith without their knowledge. This provision is deeply concerning and undermines the principles of justice and accountability that our government should uphold. The proposed measure would create a private right of action for senators to bring civil lawsuits against the US government and potentially individual federal employees. Courts could award at least $500,000 for each attempt by criminal investigators to access a senator's data without informing them. This is an egregious overreach that places senators above the law and hinders legitimate investigations. This provision sends a dangerous message that elected officials are entitled to special protections not afforded to ordinary citizens. It could severely impede the work of special counsels and other investigators tasked with rooting out corruption and wrongdoing in our government. The potential for $500,000 awards for each attempt to access data could have a chilling effect on necessary investigative work. Furthermore, tying this controversial measure to a government shutdown deal is a cynical political maneuver. It exploits the urgency of reopening the government to push through a policy that deserves careful, separate consideration and public debate. I urge you to reject this deal and push for a clean government funding bill without this problematic provision. Our focus should be on ensuring government accountability and transparency, not creating special protections for senators that could obstruct justice. Please stand firm against this attempt to shield elected officials from proper scrutiny and maintain the integrity of our investigative processes.