Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Role at the time: U.S. senator from Utah and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; co-sponsor with Sen. Chris Coons of the NDO Fairness Act

Statement summary

In his questioning of Smith, Sen. Mike Lee said the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section had warned that going after members' phone records carried litigation risks because of constitutional privileges, and that Smith never told Chief Judge James Boasberg that he was "targeting 19 members of a coordinate branch of government." Smith replied that Boasberg signed the nondisclosure orders, not the subpoenas, and that under department policy his office did not tell the judge whose toll records were sought. Lee said he and Sen. Chris Coons have a bipartisan NDO Fairness Act, that "There should be an articulated basis for secrecy when you're asking for a gag order," and that Smith's conduct "arguably makes what Richard Nixon did in Watergate look like a Sunday picnic."

“the Department of Justice's own Public Integrity Section, it did give you explicit warnings that going after the phone records of members of the legislative branch carried what they referred to as litigation risks due to these constitutional privileges. ... you never actually told Chief Judge Boasberg that you were targeting 19 members of a coordinate branch of government, the legislative branch. ... There should be an articulated basis for secrecy when you're asking for a gag order. ... in a way that arguably makes what Richard Nixon did in Watergate look like a Sunday picnic.”

Mike Lee

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Utah

Statement summary

Mike Lee voted nay on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote against directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”

Mike Lee

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Utah

Statement summary

Mike Lee voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 86, the Senate resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 86: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”