Senate Hearing Turns Heated Over Vehicle Tracking Claims

A hearing by the Senate Commerce Committee concerning candidates for the Department of Transportation escalated into a contentious debate on Wednesday. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) accused Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) of stalking her, specifically in relation to tracking her vehicle.

The tension flared during questioning of Ryan McCormack, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump for the position of deputy secretary of transportation policy. Moreno stated he had gathered the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of various Democratic senators’ cars to expose what he described as hypocrisy within the party regarding safety technology. He noted that VINs are typically visible from outside the vehicle.

Moreno argued that the absence of optional driver-assistance features on these vehicles contradicts the party’s push to implement such technologies for federal employees. He claimed this fact undermines the party’s initiative to mandate these technologies in all vehicles.

The issue heated up further when Rosen confronted Moreno, accusing him of “stalking” her and her team for their VINs. Moreno retorted, “You can see it from outside the car,” responding to her objections.

“It feels invasive,” Rosen added. “Did you follow my staff to note their VINs?”

Moreno maintained that his actions were aimed at revealing hypocrisy while pointing out that, unlike federal employees affected by the government shutdown, senators like Rosen continue to receive their paychecks. He asked, “What do you tell the TSA officer or the air traffic controller about their situation?”

Rosen defended herself, mentioning that she donates her salary during such times and criticized Moreno for how he spends his time. She urged him to engage with constituents rather than retreat to luxury dining experiences.

As the exchange continued, Moreno shifted the focus back to legislative matters, questioning if 60 votes would be necessary to advance a bill, prompting a moment of reflection in the heated debate.

Rosen later clarified that she does not own a car in D.C. and emphasized her belief that Moreno’s actions constituted an “overreach” into her and her staff’s privacy. She requested he clarify what he intended to do with the VIN information he had collected.