Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, accused Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio on Wednesday of “stalking” him and his staff. She claimed he noted the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) on Democrats’ cars to demonstrate they hadn’t opted for certain safety features he wanted to make mandatory.
This disagreement arose during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Moreno mentioned he had collected VINs from cars used by Democratic senators to argue that they were neglecting optional driver-assistance technology while pushing for new regulations. Rosen criticized this as an invasion of privacy and asked how Moreno planned to utilize the collected data.
“I object to you stalking my car and my staff to find the VIN number to submit to this commission,” Rosen stated. Moreno responded, saying, “I can see it from outside the car.”
Later, Rosen expressed her frustration at Moreno on social media, suggesting he should focus on more constructive activities instead of “creepily” following him and writing down his VIN number.
Moreno dismissed the incident as a hypocritical measure, questioning whether he would be shocked to discover that none of his Democratic counterparts had added extra safety technology to their vehicles. He justified his actions by stating that VINs are visible through windshields.
The discussion escalated into a larger debate regarding the ongoing government shutdown and congressional salaries, with Rosen mentioning he was donating his pay. Moreno retorted that Democrats were enforcing rules they themselves ignored.
Rosen pressed Moreno to disclose the list of VINs and his intended use of the information, adding that if he provided her with her VIN, she’d share details about what was in her car.
The commission, chaired by Ted Cruz, was convening to review candidates for transit agencies.
