Senators demand answers on expired surveillance programs:
Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Ut.) on Thursday pressed the Trump administration on whether and how mass surveillance programs authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act have been halted since the act's expiration.
The letter to Attorney General William Barr and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe raises concerns that the administration may be be continuing to conduct surveillance operations by relying on Executive Order 12333.
The order, issued on 1981, has been used before to conduct operations without statutory authorization or congressional oversight.
"Congress and the American people have a right to know if this or any other administration is spying on people in the United States outside of express congressional approval, with no or diminished guardrails," Sens. Leahy and Lee wrote.
"The rights of all Americans depend on their government exercising its power responsibly, adhering to the rule of law, and upholding its duty to act transparently. Any surveillance conducted in the absence of statutory authorities and congressional oversight would be extraordinarily concerning and illegal."
Reauthorization of the key FISA provisions under the USA Freedom Act has stalled.
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Thursday July 23 2020, @06:12AM (2 children)
You are correct, and it's been that way since the 70's at least.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday July 23 2020, @11:06AM (1 child)
A lot longer than that. Never heard of J Edgar Hoover, fer instance?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Thursday July 23 2020, @04:19PM
Exactly. And the problem is that society has acclimated. "Oh well, it hasn't hurt me, life is good, it must be helping."