Settlements for those the Justice Department deems were victims of “lawfare and weaponization” under past administrations is the latest attempt to provide financial compensation to Republican senators whose phone records were tapped in the “Arctic Frost” investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.However, the Republican-controlled Congress has already rejected similar past proposals. The DOJ’s fund is a venture from the administration, not directly tied to Congress, yet outrage from GOP senators tanked the upper chamber’s plans to advance a Trump-inspired $70 billion immigration enforcement bill. The DOJ money could benefit 2021 Capitol rioters, creating a major friction point.
“I don’t need any compensation for that,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), whose phone records were subpoenaed, told the Washington Examiner.
Scott declined to elaborate whether it was appropriate for other lawmakers to seek compensation, should they choose to do so, but noted that he is seeking damages from government consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton over a leak of his confidential tax returns. The DOJ fund was created as part of a settlement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service for leaking his tax records.
