A provision in legislation to reopen the government allows certain lawmakers to sue for damages if their electronic records are obtained without their knowledge — a response to the federal investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, which gathered phone records from Tennessee’s two U.S. senators.
Senators could sue for $500,000 for each violation of the provision.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn — who has expressed outrage that her phone records were obtained by investigators — and one of her challengers in the campaign for Tennessee’s Republican primary for governor next year say they oppose the provision.
“Frankly, I find it unfathomable that this provision made it into the bill,” said U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, who seeks to replace Gov. Bill Lee.
Rose has introduced legislation in the House that would undo the provision.