Our Best Interests at Heart

Reports are coming out that the latest government shutdown is coming to an end.

According to this article from Reuters, the legislation that would end the shutdown also contains a provision that will allow eight senators to seek up to $500,000 (each) from the Department of Justice for privacy rights violations from the investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot.

Per the news piece, "[t]he legislation retroactively makes it illegal in most cases to obtain a senator's phone data without disclosure, and allows those whose records were obtained to sue the Justice Department for $500,000 per violation, along with attorneys' fees and costs."

From where I sit, this runs afoul of the ex post facto law, which basically says it's unconstitutional to retroactively punish an action that was legal when permitted.  To me, this screams money grab on the part of these eight Senators.

Senator Marsha Blackburn was quoted as saying "We will not rest until justice is served and those who were involved in this weaponization of government are held accountable."

The senators in question are Marsha Blackburn, Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson and Cynthia Lummis. 

In a twist that will surprise nobody, all eight senators voted to pass the bill. It's good to know they ONLY have our best interests at heart.