Caffeinated Politics

There were many reasons to follow the way the federal government shutdown ended. From healthcare to SNAP to the treatment of federal workers upon the government reopening. But one of the more odd and troubling additions to the budget bill was a provision allowing for certain Republican senators to sue the federal government for at least $500,000 in damages if federal investigators obtained their phone or other communication records without proper notification. One of those politicians is Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson. Considering that his actions surrounding the counting of Electoral College ballots demonstrate at least a callous disregard for law and order, his potential to become even wealthier on the taxpayer’s dime is worthy of our attention.

I argue that for any of the eight Republican senators to pretend they were somehow treated less fairly than others in such investigations is wholly unfounded. Their call records were turned over by their phone company in response to a lawful subpoena, subject to a lawful non-disclosure order signed by a federal judge, as part of a lawful criminal investigation. So for them to now be able to file suit and potentially receive $500,000 is not only wildly inappropriate but strikes to the heart of the deeper crisis in accountability and democratic integrity when it comes to the aftermath of the January 6th riot and insurrection at our nation’s Capitol.

A quick review of the actions by Johnson proves the need to investigate him.

A top aide to Sen. Ron Johnson attempted to arrange a handoff of false, pro-Trump electors from the senator to Mike Pence just minutes before the then-vice president began to count electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021.

The aide, Sean Riley, told Pence’s legislative director Chris Hodgson that Johnson wanted to hand Pence lists of the fake electors from Michigan and Wisconsin for Pence to introduce during the counting of electoral votes that certified Joe Biden’s win. The attempt was revealed in text messages obtained by the Jan. 6 select committee. 

We also know that Johnson, as chairperson of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, held hearings and purposefully fueled the lies and absurd conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. But it was his role in attempting to subvert the lawful certification of the Electoral College vote by an attempt to pass a fraudulent slate of electors to Pence that we simply must not forget, or excuse, or in any way allow him to gain financially. The vast majority of the nation understands the vital purpose of a peaceful transfer of power is the very heart of constitutional governance. When an attack occurs, overt or covert, that is designed to undermine the will of the voters at the ballot box, it then necessitates a sweeping federal investigation.

We are all well aware that federal probes often rely on phone records, communications, and personal data to trace the origins and coordination of sinister criminal efforts. If Johnson or any other elected official feared entanglement in these investigations, the solution was simple: do not engage in actions that violate the laws of the land. Especially those governing the election of the President of the United States!

For Ron Johnson to now have the ability for financial compensation from the very government whose democratic processes he sought to disrupt is completely offensive to the principles of public service. Call me old-fashioned, but taxpayer dollars should not reward those who attempt to erode the foundations of our republic.

I contend that Johnson’s actions in January 2021 were not a matter of political disagreement or mere partisan maneuvering. They were a direct affront to the rule of law. As I have written and stated at every juncture of the investigations and legal processes after the riot, there must be full accountability by those responsible. So it is unacceptable for anyone who aided the attempt to undo a presidential election to think they now deserve a route to claim public funds. Public trust and our very core foundations of democracy demand that the eight GOP senators not gain monetarily from their actions against our nation.