The chairman of the committee, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), seemed sympathetic to the DOJ position, saying that requiring warrants every time a cop needs to get emails as part of an investigation could be burdensome on courts.
What burdensome?
"Sorry to wake you, judgie. Here, sign this warrant."
"OK." Takes rubber stamp out of desk, stamps signature, hands it back. "What was it for?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. Say, wouldn't it be less of a burden if you just gave us the rubber stamp?"
"Hey, sure. Here ya go."
"Thanks, judgie. Have a nice nap."