Democrat Senator Accuses GOP Colleague of Spying on Cars
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) has made a striking accusation against Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), claiming he "creepily" spied on congressional vehicles. Rosen criticized Moreno for tracking cars used by lawmakers to commute to the Capitol and recording their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
Context of the Accusation
The dispute arose during a heated Senate Commerce Committee hearing, where Moreno admitted he collected VINs from cars owned by Democratic senators. He said his goal was to expose what he described as the Democrats’ “hypocrisy” regarding driving safety technologies.
Moreno’s Justification
Moreno argued that the Democratic senators’ vehicles lacked optional driver-assistance features, which those same senators have pushed to mandate for federal employees’ cars. He used the VIN data to support this point.
“It’s visible from the outside of the car,” Moreno responded when challenged about the gathering of VINs.
Rosen’s Response
“I object to you stalking my car and my staff to find the VIN numbers to present to this committee,” Rosen stated during the hearing.
On social media, she added: “Instead of @berniemoreno creepily following us to the cars we use to get to work in the Capitol and writing down their VIN numbers, I’d suggest he use his time in more productive ways.”
Summary
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the parties over safety legislation and privacy concerns during congressional debates.
Author’s summary: Senator Rosen sharply criticized Senator Moreno for spying on congressional cars to challenge Democrats' stance on driving safety requirements, sparking a contentious Senate hearing.