John McCain calls Rand Paul's stand against the Patriot Act 'a fundraising exercise'

Sen. John McCain
(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

GOP senators aren't happy with Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) successful plan to let key provisions of the Patriot Act expire on Sunday night. In interviews with Politico, some even suggested Paul was taking a hard stance against the NSA's bulk collection of phone records in order to raise more money for his 2016 presidential campaign.

"I know what this is about — I think it's very clear — this is, to some degree, a fundraising exercise," Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told Politico. "He obviously has a higher priority for his fundraising and political ambitions than for the security of the nation."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Explore More

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.