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‘Lone Wolf’ and ‘Roving Wiretap’ Surveillance Powers Set to Expire – Should They Be Renewed?

‘Lone Wolf’ and ‘Roving Wiretap’ Surveillance Powers Set to Expire – Should They Be Renewed?

Lawmakers have less than 15 days to decide whether to reauthorize sections of the USA Freedom Act set to expire next month.

The “lone wolf” and “roving wiretap” surveillance powers are set to expire, as well as the controversial metadata program exposed by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Former DNI Dan Coats and Attorney General William Barr want to reauthorize the metadata program despite a congressional investigation that determined the program was ineffective.

“However, as technology changes, our adversaries’ tradecraft and communications habits will continue to evolve and adapt,” argues Coats. “In light of this dynamic environment, the Administration supports reauthorization of this provision.”

A bill introduced by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) would terminate the metadata program and reauthorize the other two provisions for eight years.

Further complicating matters, some lawmakers want to use the reauthorization debate to make changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a law that establishes the procedures by which the FBI and other agencies can spy on domestic targets suspected of espionage or terrorism.

Reports suggest the government is increasingly relying on FISA surveillance to conduct ordinary criminal investigations against US citizens (a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment). For the Trump Administration, the desire to overhaul FISA is related to the FBI’s improper use of the law to spy on Trump campaign aide Carter Page.

“Any legislation devoid of necessary reforms to address the abuse of the intelligence community against a presidential campaign and even our sitting president, including lies and fraud engaged in by top-level FBI officials, misses that mark,” wrote Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA).

Author’s Note: Gathering data on all Americans in anticipation of the need to spy on one individual is unConstitutional. Domestic surveillance should end completely except by specific court order.

Editor’s Note: As a former employee of the CIA, I spied on people in other countries. I don’t want my own government doing this to me.

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9 Comments

  1. Bonnie Rutnik

    Clearly spying on American citizens without a reason is unconstitutional. You need to have a warrant and it needs to be justified not done on heresay. The intelligence agencies have been abusing their spying and lied to the Fisa Court. The Fisa Court is corrupted and should be abolished because of political bias.

    • Derek Blurb

      Let it go by the wayside. It is PC. Terrorist attacks will return . Nostalgy. And the Dems will accuse Trump for attacks. So obvious

    • texaslady

      AMERICANS WE HAVE TO TAKE BACK OUR AMERICA FROM THE EVIL CRIMINAL ACTS OF DEMOCRATS………………………..TO SOLVE AMERICAS PROBLEMS MAKE THIS CHOICE WE THE PEOPLE’ HAVE THE POWER OF OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES, TO VOTE OUT THE ENTIRE LYING,CORRUPT, TREASONOUS DEMOCRAT PARTY COME NOV 2020, VOTE TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN AND TO END ALL CORRUPTIONS IN WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT

  2. Harm

    I have an idea Mr. President, since the entire government apparatus was used as a Coup Against You, Then, let’s see, a Big Fat NO! Now Invoke the Insurrection Act & Arrest the Entire Government Operatives, Politicians, DOJ, FBI, Hell the Entire Alphabet Agencies, Invading Muslims, Invading Illegal Aliens for Treason & Send them to a Pro American Military Tribunal Sentencing them for Treason & same day service to EXECUTE THEM ALL!

  3. GEORGE EADY

    one thing is for sure .when they have authorizes to do this and others like it . they will abuse it. this I know for my self. since 1991 they have been spying on me . 24-7 360degrees . not because I am the bad guy but that they are . the ones that crossed the line many years ago . and for now some 29 years I have been keeping up with there crimes. and there are many . like in oct 8 1993. there was a attempted mass murder at my home . no less than 10 would have died . the reason for this was to cover up(where the 911 super vison raped and pargeted his 14 yr old little girl . and he worked at the Okaloosa county sheriff office . (32548 ) (every one that plated any part in this covered it up . it was sent to Tallahassee fl so the policicians could cover it up . when it should have stayed in this county. and what it reely bad . is from this point it got much worse. to proof of what I say (PLEASE ) LOOK AT my facebook timeline . look under photois then your photos http://www.facebook.com/eadygeorgem . this will show you all that the abuse of spying on the America public has been going on for many years . let me know what you think. that way I will know it this site is still blocked lol

    • Craig Michael Vandertie

      I think you suffer from severe Paranoid Schizophrenia.

      I have a younger brother who basically has had a profession that requires all members of his immediate family to be put through a background check, I am still.a free man have never even been interrogated by the FBI.

  4. Randolph

    No it should not be renewed.