{"id":2512978,"date":"2025-11-20T19:03:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T00:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-attempt-to-alter-controversial-arctic-frost-provision-blocked\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T19:07:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T00:07:02","slug":"thune-attempt-to-alter-controversial-arctic-frost-provision-blocked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-attempt-to-alter-controversial-arctic-frost-provision-blocked\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune attempt to alter controversial \u2018Arctic Frost\u2019 provision blocked"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-attempt-to-alter-controversial-arctic-frost-provision-blocked%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2512978&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) attempted to modify a controversial provision known as the &#8220;Arctic Frost&#8221; clause, which was included in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/montana-gop-senate-candidate-tells-supporters-he-wants-to-gut-dhs-report\/\" title=\"Montana GOP ... candidate reportedly aims to overhaul DHS\">recent government funding deal<\/a>. This provision enhances senators&#8217; ability to sue the Justice Department for secretly seizing their phone records during a Biden-era examination. Thune&#8217;s effort to pass a resolution that would prevent senators from personally profiting from any financial damages won in such lawsuits was blocked. The original law possibly entitles several GOP senators,whose phone data was taken without consent,to at least $500,000 in compensation. Democrats,including Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), argued that a more formal legislative fix is needed to address concerns about protecting members of Congress while <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >avoiding unintended financial gain<\/a>. Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), whose phone records were seized, supports the provision and opposes repeal efforts. The House recently voted unanimously to repeal the provision, but the senate has yet to finalize the issue. The Senate paused its session for Thanksgiving and will reconvene in early December.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Thune attempt to alter controversial &lsquo;Arctic Frost&rsquo; provision blocked<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2398744\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>An effort by Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) on Thursday to tweak a&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3891534\/thune-senate-gop-backlash-arctic-frost-surveillance-provision\/\">new provision<\/a>&nbsp;bolstering senators&rsquo; ability to&nbsp;sue the Justice Department for seizing their phone records without their knowledge during a Biden-era investigation was rejected.<\/p>\n<p>The unsuccessful endeavor was in response to GOP tensions over the stipulation that was slipped into the recent government funding deal to end the shutdown, and came less than 24 hours after the House <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3892799\/house-repeal-arctic-frost-provision-government-funding-deal\/\">repealed the provision<\/a> in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-assassination-task-force-begins-with-slew-of-requests-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump assassination task force begins with slew of requests - Washington Examiner\">rare unanimous vote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3893308\/schumer-demands-rubio-give-senate-venezuela-military-buildup-briefing\/\">Schumer demands Rubio give Senate briefing on US military buildup around Venezuela<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3892988\/republicans-risk-obamacare-paralysis-renewed-healthcare-debate\/\">Republicans risk Obamacare paralysis with renewed healthcare debate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3893063\/faa-shutdown-staffing-crisis-senate-hearing-sununu-daniels\/\">Senators warn of &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/faa-shutdown-fallout-controllers-warn-system-is-fragile\/\" title=\"FAA shutdown fallout: Controllers warn system is \u2018fragile\u2019\">fragile&#038;rsquo<\/a>; US air system after 43-day shutdown<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Thune sought unanimous consent, which any one senator can block, on a resolution binding only to the Senate, that would &ldquo;forfeit&rdquo; any financial damages won by senators in the courts to the U.S. Treasury. The current language of the law greenlights eight GOP senators whose phone records were seized without proper disclosure in former special counsel Jack Smith&rsquo;s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3893002\/lindsey-graham-eyes-big-payday-phone-data-seizure\/\">receive at least $500,000<\/a> from the government.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) objected, who moments earlier had his unanimous consent request blocked to pass the House&rsquo;s repeal. He said a more formal statutory change to the law is required to fix the &ldquo;underlying issue of protecting members without the outrageous damage provisions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Thune made the case his proposed change would &ldquo;preserve the important elements of this, which I think are critical to the protection of the Article I Branch of the government constitutionally, but address the question that has been raised about personal enrichment, which I have said is not the case here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., walks to speak with reporters after a closed-door GOP meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Heinrich&rsquo;s earlier attempt to pass the House&rsquo;s repeal of the provision was blocked by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), whose phone data was unknowingly confiscated and who has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3893002\/lindsey-graham-eyes-big-payday-phone-data-seizure\/\">vowed to sue<\/a> the DOJ, phone carrier Verizon, and other involved entities for sums in excess of the $500,000 minimum.<\/p>\n<p>Graham thanked Thune for drafting the provision with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who initially agreed to it to protect Democrats under the Trump administration but has since reversed his position to support its repeal.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3892799\/house-repeal-arctic-frost-provision-government-funding-deal\/\">HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL &lsquo;ARCTIC FROST&rsquo; PROVISION ADDED TO GOVERNMENT FUNDING DEAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thank you for making sure we&rsquo;re going to do something to protect the Senate, not only from what happened to us, but what could happen to anybody in the future,&rdquo; Graham said. &ldquo;This is really outrageous.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Senate later recessed for Thanksgiving break and will not return until Dec.1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune&#8217;s bid to change &#8216;Arctic Frost&#8217; provision blocked<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2512981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25323759940948.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[64902,4762,23610],"class_list":["post-2512978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-arctic-frost","tag-legislation","tag-thune"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25323759940948.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2512978"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2512983,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512978\/revisions\/2512983"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2512981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2512978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2512978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2512978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}