Sen. Jacky Rosen Accuses Republican Colleague of Stalking Her Staff
During a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing, Senator Jacky Rosen accused Republican Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) of stalking her staff. Moreno had admitted to collecting the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of cars owned by his Democratic colleagues.
Moreno's Admission and Intent
Moreno, a former car dealership owner, revealed his motive was to expose what he called his colleagues' hypocrisy regarding automobile safety features. He stated:
“Would it surprise you that I got the VIN numbers of every one of my Democrat colleagues’ vehicles and found that none of them bought any of the additional safety technologies on their cars? So when you are actually shopping for a car with your own money, you don’t buy the technology, but we’re sitting here saying this should be mandated for everybody else’s cars.”
Debate on Privacy and Government Shutdown
This confrontation sparked a broader discussion on privacy issues and political responsibility for the ongoing government shutdown, which has lasted 36 days and is the longest in U.S. history.
Additional Context
- The hearing focused on a batch of President Donald Trump’s nominees.
- Two other senators spoke but did not directly respond to Moreno’s claims.
Author’s Summary
This incident highlights the tension between privacy concerns and political disputes amid the longest U.S. government shutdown, fueled by contentious accusations between senators.