Jennifer McClellan
Role at the time: U.S. representative (D) for Virginia's 4th District, running for reelection
Statement summary
Rep. Jennifer McClellan said technology like Flock can be a useful tool in legitimate investigations but should be carefully reviewed, with significant public input, before implementation, and that any use must follow the Fourth Amendment.
“As a policy maker, I strive to keep communities safe without violating the civil rights and liberties protected by the U.S. Constitution. While technology can be a useful tool in legitimate law enforcement investigations, including counterterrorism and human trafficking, technologies like Flock collect significant amounts of information and should be carefully reviewed, with significant public input, before implementation. Any use of these types of technologies must adhere to our constitutional principles and protections, including the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.”
VPM News candidate questionnaire for Virginia's 4th Congressional District, published Sept. 18, 2026, with answers lightly edited for style and clarity.
Why we used this label
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. McClellan calls the technology a useful investigative tool but says systems like Flock should be carefully reviewed with significant public input before implementation and must respect the Fourth Amendment. That is acceptance subject to review and constitutional limits, which fits Mixed or conditional.