A last-minute addition to the bill that finally reopened the government after its record-breaking shutdown has ignited fury among House Republicans, exposing cracks in party ranks over what many see as a self-serving grab by senators. Reports from closed-door meetings indicate even mild-mannered Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was “livid” when he learned of the last-minute addition.
The provision, slipped into the Legislative Branch appropriations bill, lets certain senators sue the U.S. government for damages tied to former special counsel Jack Smith’s January 6 investigation—codenamed “Arctic Frost.” It targets cases where the Department of Justice subpoenaed phone records without notifying the affected lawmakers, a move that reeks of the kind of unchecked surveillance conservatives have long warned about from federal agencies.
The clause specifically allows senators to seek up to $500,000 in compensation, but only for themselves—not for President Trump or everyday Americans who faced similar intrusions. This exclusivity has fueled accusations that it’s nothing more than an insider perk, funded by taxpayers, to settle personal scores from the probe that ensnared eight Republican senators’ data through subpoenas to companies like Twitter (now X).
Lindsey Graham said, “Oh, definitely [if asked if he would file a lawsuit]… And if you think I’m going to settle this thing for a million dollars? No. I want to make it so painful no one ever does this again.”
Ted Cruz defended the insertion, telling Politico it was meant to give “real teeth” to protections against DOJ overreach. But not all senators are eager to cash in. Dan Sullivan has “no plans to sue,” according to his advisor, while Ron Johnson echoed that sentiment: “I have no plans at this time [to sue]… If I did sue, it would only be for the purpose of using the courts to expose the corrupt weaponization of federal law enforcement by the Biden and Obama administrations.”
On the House side, the backlash was swift and pointed. Speaker Johnson admitted he was blindsided: “I was just as surprised by the inclusion of that language as anyone. I had no prior notice of it at all… I was frustrated, as my colleagues are over here, and I thought it was untimely and inappropriate.”
He’s now pushing for a fast-tracked vote next week to strip it out, urging the Senate to follow suit.
Rep. John Rose, who introduced repeal legislation, called it out for its narrow focus: “The American people should not be asked to make compensation to United States senators, the ultimate insiders, if you will — who have been wronged, no doubt in my mind … this provision does not allow other Americans to pursue a remedy. It does not even allow the President of the United States, who was equally wrongfully surveilled and pursued by the Justice Department — they didn’t even include President Trump in this… They saved this special treat for themselves.”
Chip Roy didn’t hold back either: “Well, they heard them… I mean, you know, the lords don’t like to be told by mere commoners what to do. But we’re going to have to take a pretty strong stand on this one.”
Greg Steube went further, voting against the entire bill: “I’m not voting to send Lindsey Graham half a million dollars.”
The provision’s origins trace back to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who added it at the behest of Graham and Cruz, with a nod from Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Many senators claimed ignorance until the bill surfaced over the weekend, raising questions about how such a targeted favor made it through without broader scrutiny.
Marsha Blackburn, one of the affected senators, supports undoing it but plans to pursue a declaratory judgment instead: “This fight is not about the money; it is about holding the left accountable for the worst weaponization of government in our nation’s history.”
Democrats, predictably, piled on the criticism. Martin Heinrich fumed: “I am furious that the Senate Minority and Majority Leaders chose to airdrop this provision into this bill at the eleventh hour — with zero consultation or negotiation with the subcommittee that actually oversees this work… This is precisely what’s wrong with the Senate.”
This dust-up comes amid broader revelations about the “Arctic Frost” probe, where Smith’s team quietly scooped up lawmakers’ data without the usual alerts, fueling suspicions of a coordinated effort to target Trump allies. While the clause aims to deter future abuses, its Senate-only scope smacks of elitism, leaving President Trump and others out in the cold.
As House Republicans gear up for repeal, it serves as a reminder of how even within the party, the fight against deep-state tactics can get tangled in personal interests. With the government back open, the real test will be whether the Senate bends or digs in deeper.
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Rules and benefits for thee. None for us. Business as usual.
That’s what Republicans go to Washington for to feather their own nest so why would anyone be surprised at this. This is the reason that they don’t talk about Pelosi’s insider trading because they all do it one way or another.
johnson, do not even pretend you did not know this was going on, YOUR party has really betrayed us over the last couple months not only with this but H1B as well. I guess it really does not matter which party is in power, You thieves always win and we the taxpayers always get SCREWED.
Make the taxpayer liable for everything, as much as possible
Boy that will show them
Why don’t they make their money honestly like insider trading. 500,000 dollars is chump change just ask Nancy
Most in CONgress put self before country. It’s why we have government shut downs and $37 TRILLION in debt, and it costs the Mint more money to make a penny than what is worth.
That’s great, what is he doing about it. Mike being livid does nothing for the rest of us.
Making the appeal of the provision. It might have also already been filed. Not sure.
He is the Speaker of the House not the Senate.
I read this differently.
Put it in there, let everyone freak out because it excludes all of us.
Take it out, include us.
I like it.
A bunch of hypocritical self serving elitist politicians. No wonder nothing gets done. Why bother voting anymore. We send them an overwhelming mandate and they can’t even get that done.
The solution to the Arctic Frost problem and others like it is to put the people who did it in JAIL and throw away the key. And I’d make them pay for their room and board while locked up. That is what will deter bad behavior.
Exactly. The only solution is criminal. This is just more theft from a corrupt government. I had great hopes for Trump, but as soon as he abandoned DOGE and stabbed Elon in the back, I felt like we were in trouble. When he did a complete 180 on Epstein, I knew we were. I really hoped he wouldn’t be an Israeli puppet because of his personality, but he’s caved worse than any previous president to the Zionist plague.
Actually, it’s quite the window into those participants ethics.
Very disappointing they wrote it only and merely for themselves.
Republican Party wants money. “Democratic” Party wants power. Proven time and time again…
Why is anyone shocked what domestic terrorist do in last min of anything they put their hands on.
Lindsey Graham – always looking out for himself.
Why do they, and even the J6 prisoners, keep suing taxpayers and not the individual offenders in DC? Nancy Pelosi is guilty of insider trading. Period. Yet they just whine about it and pretend they need another law to prevent what is already against the law everywhere.
Nancy Pelosi is also guilty of heading up the J6 Fedsurrection. Wray, Garland, Mayorkas, Cheney, the J6 Committee, dirty judges and DAs, cruel wardens and guards and lying witnesses…ALL INDIVIDUALLY GUILTY, not taxpayers. Yet we get hit with lawsuits paying for their personal crimes. Sick of it. Let Lindsay Graham sue JACK SMITH and WRAY and GARLAND and BIDEN and OBAMA. They are the culprits! And we taxpayers are bailing them out instead of prosecuting them. Sick of it!
I am a little confused. How is the Justice Department going to be punished when taxpayers will foot the bill for their mistake? Republicans had the wind at their back but now they are going to be labeled as opportunists for sneaking this provision into the bill but to open the government. Their grievances should be addressed separately.
This is the kind of action that makes me delete text messages from WinRed and the GOP fund raisers. STOP!
No. I want to make it so painful no one ever does this again.”
You mean with the taxpayers money. The taxpayers should throw all of you traitors out.
I would like to know who is responsible for the language in the CR bill banning Hemp products.
Why the Hell should we taxpayers be made to pay for Dirty, Crooked, Illegal President “Auto-Pen” Joe Biden and his crooked DemocRAT party’s illegal Arctic Frost investigation. Offended parties should file lawsuits against Biden and the DemocRATs, DNC, etc. for their illegal violations perpetrated by them. They are the ones who committed the illegal, unconstitutional activity – NOT the American taxpayers.
Not good enough that their rich off insider trading.
Why the hell did the House sign the bill? They apparently DO NOT read the bills prior to signing. This should be a good lesson for these idiots to READ what they sign. These Senate Clowns protected themselves out of greed and selfishness while leaving American citizens out of their money grab. Maybe they shold take the money from their insider trading.
I would think all the money laundering going on with the Ukraine arms and $ packages have provided enough for the corrupt DC criminals destroying the US but they are determined to clean the country out of every printed USD before it collapses.
This is why bills should only contain items pertaining to the purpose of the bill. No add ons for other concerns, taxes, benefits, etc. Single purpose bills only. I have never understood why this was allowed. I know why Congress does it – to persuade and maintain their power BUT it’s wrong. It should be dealt with once and for all.