They say reauthorization will not occur without reforms.
Some members of the House of Representatives, including Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Representative Mike Turner of Ohio, are saying they will not support the reauthorization of powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act unless there are major reforms. Their concerns stem from information on the FBI’s FISA abuses in the report of Special Counsel John Durham.
They are seeking changes at the FBI and FISA Court (which approves the FBI’s secret warrants).
Congressman Turner said, “Reforms are necessary. We will be taking up the issue of reforms, and they will not be limited to 702 itself. It will encompass both abuses that we are aware of and abuses that are now in the public domain as a result of disclosure and Durham.”
According to the Director of National Intelligence, Section 702 “is a key provision of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 that permits the government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign persons.”
Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois, who is leading the committee’s working group on FISA, said, “There is no clean reauthorization whatsoever—that is just off the table. FISA can be made better” with “strong and systemic reforms.” Representative LaHood suggested lying or omitting information to the FISA Court should have criminal consequences.
Committee Chairman Turner had earlier said FISA is a “top legislative priority” for the House Intelligence Committee.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Chairman Turner as he oversees the investigations and work of the House Intelligence Committee.
- For Congressman LaHood as he collaborates with colleagues in the reforms of FISA.
- For Attorney General Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and DNI Avril Haines to be receptive to the reforms to come from Congress.
Sources: Director of National Intelligence, Washington Examiner, Fox News
