A dispute erupted in the US Congress between Republicans over a provision in the shutdown avoidance bill. It allows senators to sue the Department of Justice and receive $500,000 for each violation related to the seizure of their phone records in the 2020 election interference case. This is stated in a Bloomberg article, writes UNN.
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The House of Representatives is expected to vote to repeal the provision, but Senate Republicans are in no hurry to support it. Senator Lindsey Graham has already told Fox News that he plans to sue for "tens of millions" of dollars.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is outraged that the provision was suddenly added: "We had no idea." Congressman Chip Roy called it "selfish" and "shockingly absurd."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune defends the provision: "The main thing is where is the accountability and what are the consequences of bad behavior?" He insists it's about principle, not money.
Senator Markwayne Mullin admitted that he didn't even know about the compensation before the vote and believes it shouldn't be retroactive.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer confirmed that Thune insisted on the retroactive application of the provision so that Republican senators could file lawsuits. Political tensions in the Republican Party are rising.