Controversial Bill Sparks Privacy Debate Amid Government Shutdown Resolution

A bill in Congress aims to end the U.S.'s longest government shutdown while allowing eight Republican senators to sue for privacy violations related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation. The legislation, which has passed the Senate, includes a controversial clause letting lawmakers seek damages from the Justice Department.

A controversial piece of legislation moving through Congress, aimed at ending the United States' longest government shutdown, has sparked a privacy debate. The bill, which recently passed in the Senate, includes a clause allowing eight Republican senators to pursue legal action against the Justice Department for privacy violations.

The provision retroactively criminalizes the Justice Department's subpoenaing of senators' phone records related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation, allowing those impacted to claim $500,000 per violation, alongside attorney fees. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, whose records were affected, emphasized accountability, while her Senate colleagues unanimously backed the bill.

Democrats, however, argue the bill equates to a financial windfall for the implicated Republicans. Special Counsel Jack Smith ceased his investigation into former President Donald Trump following Trump's 2024 election victory, citing departmental policy against prosecuting a sitting president. The legislation continues to elicit mixed reactions across the political spectrum.

(With inputs from agencies.)