Democrat Senator Accuses GOP Colleague of Spying on Cars
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) has accused Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) of "creepily" spying on congressional vehicles to make a point regarding driving safety legislation.
Details of the Accusation
Rosen criticized Moreno for following congressional members to their cars and noting their vehicle identification numbers (VINs). She tweeted on Wednesday:
“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.”
Context from Senate Commerce Committee Hearing
The accusation followed a contentious Senate Commerce Committee session where Moreno admitted to collecting VINs from Democratic senators' cars. He claimed the effort was to expose what he described as the Democrats’ “hypocrisy” on vehicle safety technology.
Moreno argued that the cars owned by these senators lacked the optional driver-assistance features they advocate to mandate for federal employees’ vehicles.
Exchange from the Hearing
“I object to you stalking my car and my staff to find the VIN numbers to present to this committee,” Rosen said during the session.
Moreno responded, “It’s visible from the outside of the car,” referring to the VINs typically seen through the front windshield.
Summary
The dispute highlights tensions between Senators over proposed safety regulations and the methods used to challenge each other’s positions.
Author’s note: The incident reveals an unusual tactic used in political debates, raising questions about privacy and the boundaries of accountability.