Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump took to Twitter to voice his strong opposition to the reauthorization of the controversial surveillance law, known as FISA, calling for it to be “killed.” Trump declared that FISA was illegally used against him and others, and even claimed that his campaign was spied on. It’s clear that Trump is fired up about the reauthorization of FISA, and he is not holding back.
Donald Trump Calls to ‘Kill FISA‘ as Speaker Johnson Moves to Enable Deep State Surveillance https://t.co/4rvmRkCKQ4 via @BreitbartNews
— Funny_Guy (@FunnyGu31492803) April 10, 2024
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is pushing to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a move that has ignited a heated debate in the House. This law, intended to target foreign adversaries, has been widely criticized for surveilling the private communications of American citizens. Privacy advocates from both sides of the political spectrum, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Ranking Member Jerry Nadler, are pushing for a warrant requirement to be attached to the bill.
However, Johnson issued a warning that if his preferred bill fails, the Senate will push through a clean reauthorization. He emphasized the importance of not allowing this “vital national security tool to go dark.” This move has raised concerns among privacy experts, with Noah Chauvin questioning how Johnson expects to pass a clean reauthorization if he can’t get his preferred bill through the House.
The battle in the House doesn’t seem to be an easy one. Johnson faces a tough road ahead, with House Republicans holding a razor-thin majority and Rep. Matt Gaetz already declaring that he will not support the rule. Gaetz has made it clear that he will vote against the rule unless there’s an opportunity to address the issues with FISA. It’s evident that the opposition to the reauthorization is growing within the Republican Party.
Moreover, Rep. John Rose from Tennessee expressed his dissatisfaction with the reauthorization bill, criticizing it for empowering the government to surveil the American people without warrants. He emphasized the need for substantial reforms to protect the privacy of American citizens. Rose also highlighted the failure to consider his proposed amendments aimed at improving and reforming the surveillance program, showing a clear divide within the party on this issue.
It’s clear that the reauthorization of FISA has sparked a fierce debate within the Republican Party, with prominent figures like Trump, Johnson, Gaetz, and Rose taking strong stances on the issue. As the battle unfolds in the House, it remains to be seen how the future of this controversial surveillance law will unfold. Stay tuned as the drama continues to unfold on Capitol Hill.
