House Moves to Repeal Controversial Bill Allowing Senators to Sue Government

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives plans to fast-track legislation aimed at repealing a provision in a recent government funding bill that permits Republican senators to sue the federal government for $500,000 each. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the vote is scheduled for next week.

The contentious provision allows eight Republican senators, who were recently targeted by secret subpoenas during a federal investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, to seek damages. Lawmakers have expressed frustration over the last-minute addition, claiming it was rammed through without adequate discussion.

“I could not in good conscience support a resolution that creates a self-indulgent legal provision for certain senators to enrich themselves by suing the Justice Department using taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., the lone Republican to oppose the continuing resolution. He criticized the maneuver as unnecessary and misleading.

United States District Court Judge approved secret subpoenas that required telecommunications companies to provide call logs of the eight Republican senators. The data included details about who the lawmakers contacted, the dates, times, and places of the calls.

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., voiced outrage over the subpoenas, equating the surveillance of the senators to a serious overreach. “Surveilling eight United States Senators is wholly unacceptable,” he stated. “Every American should be shocked at this.”

Other targeted lawmakers include Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., also expressed discontent over the perceived injustice, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding Senate members.

While the House may pass the legislation to repeal the provision, it faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where it is unlikely to gain traction. Bipartisan condemnation of the provision reflects the divided sentiment among lawmakers, revealing broader questions about government transparency and congressional integrity.

Democrats have been particularly vocal, with Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., labeling the provision as “corrupt and anticonstitutional self-dealing.” The House Democratic caucus attempted to eliminate the provision from the funding bill, but that effort was blocked by Republican leadership.

The controversy has sparked concerns about lawmakers granting themselves special legal privileges and the implications for public trust in government processes.