3:39Sen. Martin Heinrich addresses reporters following the customary Democratic policy session at the U.S. Capitol Building, June 10, 2025, in Washington.Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
Senate Republicans declined on Thursday a Democratic proposal to ratify the legislation that the House passed without dissent to nullify a clause inserted into the government funding agreement that permits senators to take legal action against the government if their telephone records are accessed without their consent.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., initially went to the Senate chamber in an endeavor to unanimously adopt the House measure that progressed in the House Wednesday evening via a vote of 426-0. He asserted that the debated telephone record stipulation “implies that each senator could essentially receive millions of dollars” as Americans struggle to make ends meet.
“There are no historical accounts of Congress establishing a taxpayer-funded cash avenue for senators to litigate against the government for performing its duties. This is likely due to its blatant impropriety,” Heinrich stated. “Even House Speaker Mike Johnson is in agreement with me, and when Speaker Johnson and I see eye to eye, it signifies something is seriously flawed.”
“We are obligated to reverse this eleventh-hour concession that enables certain senators to personally gain millions in taxpayer funds while millions of Americans are reassessing their finances to ascertain how to manage until the month’s end,” he appended.
Sen. Martin Heinrich speaks to reporters following the weekly Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol Building, June 10, 2025 in Washington.Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
Sen. Lindsey Graham impeded that endeavor, asserting that he and the other senators whose telephone records were scrutinized by the FBI as a component of special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 investigation were entitled to observe a “solution” for those “injustices.”
Graham expressed his intention to sue the Justice Department.
“All of us who are aggrieved need to have a redress to that grievance, and we’re establishing an avenue to pursue legal action for what transpired to us, in essence, to guarantee it never recurs,” Graham communicated. “This was organized with individuals in positions of power in the Senate. This wasn’t a scheme intended to enrich anybody. It was meant to prevent what was inappropriate, in my estimation, from ever happening again.”
“But I'm disposed to cooperate with my colleagues regarding the $500,000 I plan to sue for. I want to inform you that I intend to sue Biden's DOJ and Jack Smith. I'm going to sue Verizon. The sum will significantly exceed $500,000,” he supplemented.
Graham appeared to suggest that dialogues with Democrats about a potential compromise might be commencing, even implying that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was engaging with Republicans.
Sen. Lindsey Graham introduces Admiral Kevin Lunday during Lunday’s confirmation hearing to be the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Nov. 19, 2025 in Washington.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“To my Majority Leader, I appreciate your cooperation with Senator Schumer. And to Senator Schumer, thank you for striving to collaborate in order to safeguard the institution,” Graham mentioned. “We will be striving jointly to identify a resolution that could be more accommodating, but the notion that I am backing down and abandoning this, you can dismiss that entirely.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who facilitated the incorporation of the provision into the funding bill that concluded the government impasse, subsequently addressed the floor, upholding his stance in defense of the telephone record provision, and introduced an alternative proposition of unanimous consent—which was subsequently obstructed by Heinrich— asserting that the contested provision would not enrich senators but would “clarify that any compensations awarded under this law would be relinquished to the United States Treasury.”
Thune expressed that the House ought to endorse his position because the telephone records provision extends “important protections to members.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol, November 19, 2025 in Washington.Heather Diehl/Getty Images
“This measure that we sanctioned does, in fact, confer significant protections to members, and I believe it is a crucial safeguarding of the separation of powers. It shields both Democrats and Republicans from a weaponized Department of Justice that is pursuing political rivals,” Thune conveyed.
“The measure was never designed to provide financial gains for senators. It has invariably been the case under our regulations that members would not retain damages they obtain under this measure. Hence, I am hopeful that we can collaborate to pass a resolution to reflect what has consistently been valid and what I have been expressing all along, which is that this measure concerns accountability, not financial benefit,” he elaborated.
Heinrich, obstructing Thune’s countermeasure, communicated that the adjustment was not a “resolution.” He stated his willingness to engage in discussions toward a compromise.
“A statutory alteration that is enshrined in law is not a resolution; rather, it is intended to rectify the statute. And I am of the opinion that we should collaborate with our colleagues in the House to tackle the fundamental matter of protecting members without the exorbitant damage stipulations that were retroactively incorporated into this statute,” Heinrich expressed.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
