Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) has made an unusual claim against Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), accusing him of "creepily" spying on congressional vehicles to support his argument about driving safety legislation.
Rosen criticized Moreno's actions on Twitter, stating:
“Instead of @berniemoreno creepily following us to the cars we use to get to work in the Capitol and writing down their VIN numbers, I’d suggest he use his time in more productive ways.”
The remarks followed a tense Senate Commerce Committee hearing where Moreno admitted to collecting vehicle identification numbers (VINs) from Democratic senators' cars. He aimed to expose what he called the party’s “hypocrisy” regarding safety technology mandates.
Moreno explained that the VINs were used to demonstrate that some Democratic senators' vehicles lacked the driver-assistance features they advocate to mandate for federal workers.
Rosen confronted Moreno during the session, asserting:
“I object to you stalking my car and my staff to find the VIN numbers to present to this committee.”
Moreno responded, “It’s visible from the outside of the car,” referring to the fact that VINs can typically be seen through the front windshield.
This incident highlights the sharp political tensions surrounding federal vehicle safety regulations, with personal accusations adding to the debate.
Author's summary: Senator Jacky Rosen accused Senator Bernie Moreno of "creepily" spying on congressional vehicles to challenge Democrat safety proposals, sparking controversy at a Senate hearing.