The bill that ended the government shutdown included a provision requiring the Justice Department and FBI to notify the Senate when a lawmaker is under investigation and if their personal information is being subpoenaed.

Lawmakers can also sue the DOJ under the provision, and can be awarded $500,000 or more in damages for each violation by the government if their cases are successful.

The language, tucked into one of the appropriations bills, comes after Senate Republicans released FBI records related to an investigation called “Arctic Frost,” which pertained to the fake elector scheme from 2020 where Donald Trump allies pressured GOP electors to register Electoral College votes for Trump from states that former President Joe Biden won.

The provision sparked bipartisan furor on Capitol Hill as critics called it a self-serving measure that would enrich senators at taxpayers’ expense.

Republicans ultimately voted for the funding bill to bring an end to the historic 43-day shutdown. Now, they say they’ll introduce a standalone bill to repeal it.

Here’s what to know about the controversy on Capitol Hill:

What’s in this provision?

Senate Republicans accuse former special counsel Jack Smith and FBI leaders of having political motives for obtaining phone records of nine GOP lawmakers with grand jury subpoenas.

The records contain da