Nevada's Jacky Rosen Accuses Senator of Stalking Staff Over Car Data
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) accused a fellow senator of stalking her staff to gather information about their cars, sparking controversy during a Senate committee hearing.
Incident Details During Senate Hearing
During a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on Wednesday, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) revealed he had collected vehicle identification numbers (VINs) from several Democratic senators' cars. The discussion arose while questioning nominee Ryan McCormack about car safety features.
"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?" Moreno asked.
McCormack admitted he was unaware of this information. Moreno criticized Democrats for not purchasing advanced safety technology themselves while advocating for mandatory safety features.
Rosen’s Response and Privacy Concerns
Later, Rosen requested unanimous consent to investigate how Moreno obtained the VINs, describing the act as an invasion of senators' privacy.
"VIN numbers are displayed on the windshield of the car," Moreno responded.
VINs are typically visible on the driver's side dashboard or on a sticker inside the driver's door. Rosen asked directly whether Moreno had inspected her car in Las Vegas. Moreno replied by asking if she uses a car in Washington D.C., to which Rosen clarified it was her staff’s vehicle.
Summary
The exchange highlights tensions around privacy and transparency in the Senate, especially concerning personal property and data collection methods among lawmakers.
Author’s Conclusion
This incident reflects growing concerns about privacy boundaries even among government officials, raising questions about appropriate conduct in political oversight.