Vote NO: Shutdown Bill Gives 8 Corrupt Senators $4M Jan 6 Payout

I urge you to vote against any funding bill containing the provision that allows eight Republican senators to sue the federal government for $500,000 each over lawful grand jury subpoenas issued during the January 6 investigation. This self-dealing language has no place in legislation to reopen our government. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee had their phone records lawfully obtained through grand jury subpoena in 2023. The records covered calls made in the days before and after the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Now these senators have inserted retroactive language allowing them to collect $500,000 per violation from taxpayers, plus attorney fees. January 6 was a violent crime against our democracy. Rioters attacked police officers, smashed windows, and halted the certification of a free and fair election. Five people died. Officers were beaten with flagpoles and fire extinguishers. Investigating that attack was necessary to defend the rule of law and hold criminals accountable. These eight senators want taxpayers to reward them for being part of that lawful investigation. Most planned to challenge the 2020 election results. Their phone records were obtained through the same routine grand jury process used in thousands of federal investigations. No other American receives $500,000 in damages for lawful law enforcement procedures. This provision undermines accountability for January 6 and tells law enforcement that investigating the powerful comes with a price tag. It dishonors every officer who defended the Capitol that day. Strip this corrupt provision from the bill. No member of Congress should profit from January 6.